Panda farmers decry exclusion from SEZ benefits
Friday, May 28, 2021
SEZ licensed farmers operating in Pandamatenga will benefit from financial incentives that include five percent reduced corporate tax, zero-rated VAT on raw materials, duty-free imports of specialist plant machinery, favourable transfer duty and full repatriation of capital. They will also enjoy fast-tracked land allocations that included long term renewable leases of 99 years.
Speaking in Kasane recently during a consultative meeting organised by the assistant ministers of Agriculture Development and Food Security, Beauty Manake and Investment Trade and Industry, Molebatsi Molebatsi, the farmers complained that they will be excluded from the accrued benefits as they will not be registered as SEZ investors.
The Ministry of Agriculture, local producers, retailers, and industry associations must work together to overcome the obstacles hindering vegetable production and distribution.This collaborative approach is essential to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of vegetables in the market.Firstly, the Ministry of Agriculture should provide support and guidance to local farmers to enhance their productivity and efficiency. This could...