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Edgar Vhera, Agriculture Specialist Writer
AS the country moves to ensure the 2024 winter wheat is harvested before the onset of the 2024/25 season’s early rains, AFC Leasing has released 56 combine harvesters to wheat clusters around the country to expedite the harvesting process.
In a notice to wheat growers yesterday, AFC Leasing Company managing director Ms Caroline Mozhendi said all was in place for successful harvesting of the planted wheat.
“AFC has a fleet of 56 combines for harvesting this year’s wheat. These are strategically deployed in 22 AFC cluster centres situated in wheat growing strongholds. The private sector is also ready to provide additional combines if aggregate demand from farmers surpasses our fleet’s capacity to do the exercise on time,” she said.
Ms Mozhendi indicated farmers can register for combine services by calling or visiting any AFC branch close to them or better still make a booking on-site.
The booking process involves farmers receiving a quotation, signing a contract and then making the payment before the deployment of the harvester.
She explained that farmers could pay with cash or grain to secure their booking with dry rate charges sitting between US$80 and US$90 per hectare depending on the farmer’s geographical location.
“Fuel should be readily available at the farm for the combine harvester to avoid delays and farmers are encouraged to track their grain moisture content to ensure combines arrive just in time to harvest so that many are served. The moisture content should be between 12 and 14 percent,” she added.
AFC combines have the capacity to do in excess of 10 hectares per day per combine and farmers need to ensure that there is a solid plan for transporting their grain as soon as harvesting is done to avoid on-farm delays.
Ms Mozhendi said the bulk of the harvesting will be done at Arda joint ventures (JVs) and Arda irrigation schemes, which play a critical role in driving wheat food security in the country.
Early this year, Government announced an incentive planning price of US$440 per tonne for wheat with farmers positively responding by surpassing the planned hectarage of 120 000 by planting 121 982 hectares assuring achievement of the set wheat target of 120 000 tonnes.
It has also taken proactive steps to bolster its winter wheat harvesting capabilities by securing a fleet of 310 combine harvesters to facilitate the efficient and timely collection of the harvest.
In addition to the 310 combine harvesters, Government has also strategically positioned 108 drying units across the country to support the winter wheat harvesting programme.
Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation, Farm Infrastructure Development and Soil Conservation chief director, Engineer Edwin Zimunga revealed that the drying facilities have a combined daily capacity of 96 tonnes, which will help safeguard the wheat harvest in the event of early rains.
Online Reporter