The Sunday Mail
Theseus Shambare
WHEAT farmers have been assured of adequate electricity and water for irrigation of the cereal this season, as growers knuckle down on planting the crop, whose recommended sowing period is early April to end of May.
An estimated 85 000 hectares will be put under winter wheat this year for a projected best-ever output of 408 000 tonnes, which will surpass last year’s record of 380 000t.
Planting has commenced in areas such as Mashonaland West while distribution of inputs is ongoing.
Government has made arrangements with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) and Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) to supply power and water, respectively, to farmers.
Speaking at the Mashonaland East wheat planting preparedness discussion day in Marondera on Wednesday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera said:
“The issue of power has been thoroughly assessed and discussed with Zesa. Ring-fencing of power for wheat farmers is guaranteed.
“We are going to have sufficient power for wheat-producing farmers. We are Going4Growth and we must have wheat and flour self-sufficiency at all costs.
“Uninterrupted electricity and water supply will change the dynamics of wheat farming in the country.”
He said last month’s synchronisation of the Hwange 7 power plant with the national grid was a well-timed shot in the arm.
He, however, implored farmers to pay their outstanding debts to Zesa.
“To continue on our success path, considering that almost every grain of wheat production in Zimbabwe is contracted under different schemes, we have told all those companies that electricity is also a major input — the same as fertiliser and seed; it has to be paid for. We agreed on that.
“Locally, we produce a certain proportion of electricity and some is imported and the users must pay for that. However, the good news is that Hwange 7 has been introduced into the national grid and we are good to go.”
As Government is leveraging on the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy to make Zimbabwe a net exporter of the cereal, wheat production this year has been put under different programmes to ensure a successful season.
The Presidential Inputs Scheme is supporting 20 000ha; the National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS) will have two initiatives — the CBZ Agro-Yield (20 000ha) and AFC (15 000ha); the Food Crop Contractors Association (FCCA) will have 25 000ha put under the crop, while self-financed farmers are targeting 5 000ha.
Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services chief director Professor Obert Jiri said inputs distribution is currently underway.
“Inputs under the Presidential Inputs Scheme are being moved to the Grain Marketing Board depots and farmers are collecting from their usual points close to their respective farms.
“There is enough supply of seed for the entire hectarage. In Mashonaland West, planting has already started and planting for the rest of the wheat-producing areas is expected to be in full swing soon,” said Prof Jiri.
Over the years, the country could not meet the national annual requirement of 360 000 tonnes and had to depend on imports.
Wheat is the second most important cereal crop after maize.
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