Dear Zimbabwe: Here is my first business tweet of 2020 in line with this timeline's new thrust of 80% business content: There appears to be a divine farming revolution involving young people currently going on within our borders. Be a fast follower & get involved in 1 way/another
Even thought industry is required, Zimbabwe has always been more of an agro-based economy. Make an effort to follow handles that are into the agro industry & start learning and get inspired. You will awaken the hidden farming passion in you. The cleanest money is in the soil.
As you learn the ropes, identify potential markets and all the challenges that you will face once you have started. Look for A1 and A2 farming partners that have some pieces of idle land they would want to lease & start small. Connect with @corporatefarmg1 and she will refer you.
Satellite areas like Chihota, Dema, Domboshava and Harare South are ideal in terms of ready availability of some unused land whose owners you can either partner with or lease from. Selling forex is not going to be sustainable in the medium to long term as you will see.
The advantage of starting early and starting small is that banks like the Youth Empower Bank and the Zimbabwe Indegenous Women's Bank are not yet swamped with one too many applications from the agricultural sector. When you start small do not go for bigger loan applications.
Those that will require business plans, Empower Bank is assisting with preparation of such plans. SMEDCO currently has a specific MSME funding vehicle that does require collateral. Make the move and enquire on that fund and start the application ball rolling. Ends**
