Tendai Kamhungira 
AGRICULTURE minister, Anxious Masuka says the new land bank, which is expected to provide cheaper financing to farmers will open its doors by the first quarter next year, in time for the winter farming season.
Responding to questions from legislators in Parliament last week about agriculture finance and the country’s land tenure system Masuka, said the government had come up with a plan to try and solve the problems associated with agricultural financing while negotiations with bankers were ongoing.
“The negotiations between the government and the Bankers Association regarding the bankability of 99-year leases has been going on for the past 10 years and still they are not bankable. Whilst those discussions are going on the government has resolved to remodel and transform Agribank into a land bank and this will be happening in the next five months ahead of winter wheat production so that by March 31, Agribank will now be an institution that does not consider a tenure document for one to access a loan but will consider the business plan,” he said.
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