adminFungai Lupande
Mash Central Bureau
Four farmers at Cowley Farm in Matepatepa are counting their losses after a combined 51 hectares of wheat worth millions of dollars went up in smoke.
Mr Obert Masaka, who lost 15 hectares, said the field was a total write-off and the four were waiting for the police to conclude their investigations so that they could get assistance from CBZ Bank, which financed the Command Wheat Programme.
The matter was reported at Bindura Rural Police Station on October 25.
Mr Masaka said the incident occurred on October 22 and the farmers did not have individual insurance cover for their crop.
The other farmers are Mr Godfrey Toga, who lost 15 hectares, Mr Paul Mukaikure 10 hectares and Mr Benjamin Muzonza 11 hectares.
“When the incident happened I was at Bindura Grain Marketing Board collecting sacks for use during harvesting,” said Mr Masaka.
“We gathered that the fire started from the next plot. We had constructed a fire guard, but a tree close to our field caught fire and its burning leaves were blown onto our wheat field.
“People tried to put out the fire, but to no avail. When I received the call that the field was on fire I rushed to the scene. We tried to put out the fire using a bowser, but failed.”
Mr Masaka said he was expecting a yield of five tonnes per hectare and a total harvest of 75 tonnes for his 15 hectares valued at approximately $3,9 million.
“At the moment we are waiting for the police to conclude investigations and then get clarification from CBZ Bank, where we got the loans through Command Wheat Programme on what to do next. This is a huge loss on our part given what we have gone through.”
The development came at a time when the province is celebrating a two-fold increase in wheat production.
Although the province failed to meet its target of 18 000 hectares and a yield of 93 000 tonnes, 11 224 hectares was put under wheat production, double that of last year.
Online Reporter