Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira, Senior Zimpapers Reporter
AT least 3,1 million hectares will be planted during the coming summer cropping season amid reports that the mobilisation of inputs has started.
Measures to curb corruption have also been put in place to avoid abuse of distribution, with the Government expected to introduce further mechanisms to combat the vice, building on the success of what is already in place.
The decision for a wide range of crops comes as the country has adequate grain at national level following a good harvest in the previous season.
This came out in yesterday’s post-Cabinet briefing in Harare, chaired by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere.
The minister said Cabinet approved updated figures for the 2024-2025 summer crop marketing and the 2025 Winter Production Plan to take into account the actual production.
“The second round of Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment of April 12, 2025, shows that there is adequate grain at national level,” said Dr Muswere.
“As at September 18, 2025, a total of 860 804 tonnes of maize, soyabeans, sorghum, wheat and sunflower had been sold formally, with a large proportion being marketed informally.
“The formal grain and oilseed intake is 437 percent above the intake recorded at the same time last year. The Grain Marketing Board’s intake is 262,83 percent above last year’s.”
Dr Muswere added that the Government has instituted interim measures to assist millers in accessing grain across the country. The strategic grain reserve presently holds 139,317 tonnes of grain in stock.
“As part of promoting value chain financing of production to ensure food and nutrition security and in terms of standing policy since August 2020, millers are required to secure at least 40 percent of their raw material requirements through contracting farmers,” he said.
Responding to questions from the media, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said all is set for the new summer cropping season, with the mobilising of inputs ongoing.
“We are very prepared for the summer season; we expect about 3,1 million hectares to be put to summer crops and, of that, about one million hectares will be put to Pfumvudza and the bulk of that will be maize with 400 000ha, followed by sorghum at about 250 000ha and millet at 130 000ha or so,” said Minister Masuka.
“We have started mobilising our inputs in terms of the seed that is required and it’s moving now to the various GMB depots.
“We are also mobilising fertilisers. In fact, we have enrolled more suppliers for fertilisers. So, indeed, the Government is very prepared.”
Minister Masuka said distribution modalities have been agreed upon for the Presidential Inputs Programme with stakeholders.
“You will recall that the President has given additional logistics support to both the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority and the Grain Marketing Board in the form of trucks to be able to move inputs to far-flung areas, difficult-to-reach areas, such as Binga.
“I am hoping that this year, they will be able to receive inputs ahead of the rainy season. So, yes, we are very prepared and will be able to provide periodic updates on the distribution and we don’t foresee any problems,” said Minister Masuka.
The Government has come up with innovative ways to curb corruption and pilferage of inputs by unscrupulous people in the distribution value chain, he added.
“We know that we ordinarily distribute this through ward-based committees chaired by the councillor involved in all villages and all the Government apparatus within the ward.
“But over and above that, we are going to overlay that with a card, which is being developed by AFC.
“We will try that; we saw its distribution prowess in Kenya. We are using this. They have been able to eliminate or reduce corruption.
“So, this is a card linked to a bank account, a card linked to your own identity, and a card with facial recognition and all these biometric apparatuses to enable us to give bona fide recipients of these inputs and eliminate corruption.”
The Meteorological Services Department has forecast a normal to above normal season, bringing hope of a bumper harvest to farmers.
Zimbabwe registered a record wheat production output last year, owing to the Second Republic’s agricultural interventions.
