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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
The year 2023 will go down in the history of Zimbabwe as the year in which the country attained a record breaking wheat yield of some 467 905 tonnes, compared to 375 000 tonnes obtained last season.
This is the highest record since growing of wheat started in 1966.
The harvest is more than the national requirement of 360 000 tonnes required to meet domestic demand.
All this augurs well for the country and ensures self-sufficiency with a modest carry-over stock.
The country recorded surplus wheat from 91 000 hectares planted by farmers.
Following the success of wheat production, the value chain has the potential to increase its production, boosting national sufficiency and export earnings.
Various interventions were introduced by the Government to boost wheat production.
This year, farmers got access to financial services easily and inputs were also distributed on time.
The Government was well prepared in supporting wheat better than the previous seasons as it worked closely with important stakeholders such as ZESA and ZINWA to ensure that there is uninterrupted power supply as well as enough water for irrigation.
Zimbabwe is one of the two African countries together with Ethiopia which are wheat self-sufficient and have been food secure on cereals for the past four seasons.
All this came after the Government took radical steps to ramp up agricultural production
Inputs manufacturers also played their role in ensuring there was enough seed on the market, while the Ministry ensured farmers received the required advisory service to produce wheat viably. Farmers were also trained on important agronomic practices to increase yields.
The private sector was also tasked by the Government to contribute at least 40 percent of the production of their raw material requirements in line with Government policy and the target was met this year.
Wheat was planted under the Presidential Inputs Scheme, National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme, also known as Command Agriculture/CBZ Agro-Yield, and private sector schemes.
The private sector establishment (Food Crop Contractors Association), self-financing farmers, the banking sector (running with the National Enhanced Agriculture Productivity Scheme) and the Presidential Input Programme have supported farmers well.
Off-takers of agricultural commodities, especially the milling industry, were committed to fund production of at least 40 percent of what they require annually as per Government policy.
This was done for the reasons of agricultural transformation and rural development, employment creation and spurring economic development whilst preserving local jobs in the upstream manufacturing, distribution, logistics and service industries inclusive of insurance companies.
This policy thrust has already proved attractive and successful in luring increased investment into the agriculture sector.
Agritex extension teams were in full force going to wheat growing areas training farmers on planting, calibration of planting machines, fertiliser application and disease control among other important agronomic practices.
Extension staff countrywide were capacitated with motorbikes to enhance mobility. They also received modern tablets to keep them abreast with latest agricultural developments.
In addition to this, they got periodic allocations of mobile data to connect them to the world of knowledge.
A training of trainers programme for them is already under implementation to ensure they get new sector updates and be in a position to provide solutions to emerging wheat farming challenges.
This is important to augment the thrust of taking farming as a business at household level and moulding farmers into real business people.
Efforts were also made to avail combine harvesters so that the wheat could not be damaged by early rains. Some challenges were, however, experienced in some parts of the country.
Veld fires and early rains affected the crop although no significant damage was done. The country remained self-sufficient
Concerns were also raised over the delays in payments after farmers had delivered their wheat to the GMB.
The attainment of soft wheat self-sufficiency is premised on Government’s agricultural transformation anchored on active private and public sector participation.
According to the Ministry Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, food self-sufficiency, import substitution, increased exports, increased value addition and beneficiation, increased employment and improved livelihoods can be better guaranteed by a vibrant water sector, anchored on robust, transparent, fair and accountable management of the sector. Irrigation has been identified as a key component in wheat production.
According to the Ministry, irrigation will continue to have a prominent role in propelling agriculture in the context of Vision 2030.
In this regard, efficient water use, through efficient irrigation systems, will be advocated. The country will continue to register surplus if all stakeholders play their part; if adequate funding is availed, inputs distributed early and farmers trained on important practices.
Farmers should also be equipped so they always plant within the planting window to prevent destruction of the crop by early rains.
Statistics from Agricultural Rural Advisory Services indicate that Mashonaland West was leading in wheat harvesting with 138 048 tonnes produced at 4,8 tonnes per hectare.
This was followed by Mashonaland East with 86 187 tonnes produced at 5,1 tonnes per hectare followed by Mashonaland Central with 85 541 tonnes produced at 5,3 tonnes per hectare.
Midlands produced 64 364tonnes at an average yield of 6.4 tonnes per hectare, Manicaland province produced 60 797tonnes at an average yield of 5.5 tonnes per hectare. Matabeleland South produced 24 231tonnes at an average yield of 5.3 tonnes per hectare.
Masvingo province produced 8 692 tonnes at an average yield of 3,1 tonnes.
The move will also allow the country to escape the harsh effects of geo-political disturbances in Eastern Europe that have disrupted supply chains creating shortages of wheat and other commodities globally.
To date the country holds a national stock of around 140 000 tonnes.
Wheat production has increased remarkably on the back of revamped irrigation schemes and mechanisms with farming implements brought into the country duty free as the Government ensured the sector regained its position as a vital cog of the national economy.
Online Reporter