Harare, (New Ziana) -A high-level Zimbabwean delegation is visiting the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin, West Africa to learn about cotton and oilseed processing strategies that ensure sustainability and scalability.
Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Vangelis Haritatos is leading the delegation, which includes officials from various specialist departments including research, economics, projects, crops and investments.
According to the Ministry, the visit is crucial for informing the implementation of Zimbabwe’s industrial agricultural projects, particularly the Gokwe Cotton Seed Processing Project, which seeks to integrate cotton, sunflower, and soyabean value chains to meet the required 500MT/day processing capacity
In collaboration with ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP) and the Afreximbank, the Ministry is driving transformative projects under the Export Agriculture on Food Security Initiative (EAFSI) aimed at enhancing food security and increasing agricultural exports.
Central to these efforts is the Gokwe Cotton Seed Processing Project which, according to the Ministry, has gained significant traction.
Successfully developed by ARISE IIP, and supported by Afreximbank, the GDIZ represents a proven model of agro-industrial transformation through strong government facilitation and strategic partnerships.
By engaging with GDIZ management and key Beninese Ministries, the Zimbabwean delegation aims to extract practical lessons on operational efficiency, stakeholder coordination, and private sector engagement.
The visit, which began on May 11 and ends on May 16, is also expected to open avenues for cross-country collaboration, enabling Zimbabwe to align its agricultural ambitions with tested models, reduce implementation risks and accelerate impact under EAFSI.
The Gokwe Cotton Seed Processing Project is expected to contract large-scale commercial farmers with irrigation facilities along with smallholder farmers who will require support on inputs, agronomy, and other areas to guarantee an increase in yield.
A 10-year oil seeds feedstock plan has been developed to support the required 500MT/day throughput, integrating cotton, sunflower, and soya bean value chains.
The project is poised to transform Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, enhancing food security and increasing agricultural exports.
New Ziana
