*3.5.2 Lease-based model*

The alternative to the contract farming based model observed in value chains across Zimbabwe was a lease-based model. Schweppes —a large beverages manufacture in Zimbabwe— is implementing such a model through leasing land —150 hectares for tomato production —from SHFs in Darwendale close to the capital Harare. Schweppes plants tomatoes on 50 hectares at a time and the other 50 hectares are used for the next crop —usually peas—in a crop rotation system.

The 50 hectares that Schweppes does not use each season may be used by SHFs to produce crops of their own choice so long as they are in line with crop rotation of the export crop being produced by Schweppes. In this model, SHFs agree to lease their land to Schweppes on a 5-year basis, receive payment for leasing the land and a share of profit from production of their land. Schweppes has full control of the land use and production while SHFs are offered first refusal of offer to provide labour to Schweppes. Over the 5-year lease period, SHFs benefit from knowledge transfer, management partnerships, learning farming as a business and technical expertise. Other benefits include SHFs receiving constant income generated from working for Schweppes, land leasing, share profit and infrastructure development.
