Programmes in place to achieve record wheat output

Sunday Mail Reporter

VARIOUS initiatives have been put in place to help farmers produce about 624 000 tonnes of wheat this year to consolidate the country’s self-sufficiency in the cereal.

In response to the El Niño-induced drought that plagued the 2023/2024 summer cropping season, wheat has been earmarked as a substitute that can be exported for cash or exchanged with maize. Close to 20 000 hectares (ha) have already been planted out of the targeted 120 000ha.

The chief director for engineering, mechanisation, post-harvest agro-processing and soil conservation in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Engineer Edwin Zimunga, said the Government has provided 14 000 tractors and 300 combine harvesters for winter wheat.

“There is an advantage this year to have an early winter wheat crop due to the strain of the summer rain-fed crops. This means land is already prepared to take up winter wheat, benefitting from the accelerated irrigation development being rolled out,” he said.

“I am glad to notify the nation that close to 20 000ha have already been prepared out of our target of 120 000ha. In the same vein, more than 3 percent of the national target has already been planted.”

Planting is reportedly picking up pace in Matabeleland South, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West provinces.

Growers are being encouraged to adhere to the recommended sowing period of early April up to the end of May. The Government has since indicated that it will reduce water and electricity tariffs.

Farmers, Eng Zimunga also said, need to take advantage of the Government mechanisation programme that is offering tractors and combine harvesters, as well as other machinery.

“At the commercial level, farmers need to go to AFC Leasing Company, which can give them services on credit or cash.

“However, if a farmer needs a social contract, there is the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, formerly District Development Fund, which offers the same services.

“We also have the private sector players under the Agricultural Mechanisation Developmental Alliance offering services for tillage, planting and harvesting,” added Eng Zimunga.Last year, the country harvested the highest-ever wheat output of 468 000 tonnes.