Online Reporter
Obert Chifamba
Agri-Insight
AS the transition from summer to winter cropping gradually shapes up, the country stands at the crossroads – either to start preparations in earnest or risk compromising the significant momentum already built towards achieving wheat self-sufficiency by 2030.
With a target of over 662 000 tonnes of wheat set for the forthcoming season, the urgency to cultivate resilience and reduce import reliance has never been greater. This path to agricultural self-sufficiency by 2030 must already be in motion as we speak.
It is no secret that achieving self-sufficiency by 2030 will not only promise food security but economic rejuvenation as well amid pressing global challenges.
And, with its intentions to achieve flour self-sufficiency clearly articulated, the nation must consolidate the groundwork it has been laying all along to mitigate climate risks and reduce dependency on imports.
Effectively, this requires all players to train their sights on maximising yield potential and economic stability, setting the stage for a resilient agricultural future.
A proactive approach in the immediate future can make the difference between sustenance and scarcity, as the nation strives for agricultural self-reliance by 2030.
Preparing for winter cropping, particularly for wheat, potatoes, and barley, is crucial for many reasons.
Early preparations help ensure that the targeted yields can be met, directly addressing the food security challenges the country faces. It is refreshing to note that by cultivating these crops, Zimbabwe can easily reduce its reliance on imports, whose availability can be unpredictable and may lead to price volatility, impacting food availability.
Food self-sufficiency is one of the stepping stones towards sound economic expansion.
One stark reality is that winter cropping preparations can lead to economic stability through increased employment opportunities in agriculture — from planting to harvesting stages.
It can create job opportunities in a development that will contribute towards the attainment of an upper middle income economy by 2030.
On the one hand, increased production is known to strengthen local economies through improved supply chains, more profits for farmers and related industries (like transport and processing).
The other benefit that comes with early preparations for a season comes in the form of ample time for doing other important things such as soil testing.
Doing soil testing well ahead of the growing season ensures that farmers can do application of chemicals such as lime to correct problems that would have been unearthed during the testing.
This allows farmers to condition soils for their targeted production plans and also helps prevent delays during the planting period.
Planning for winter crops also allows for effective crop rotation, which can enhance soil fertility and reduce pest and disease incidence. Crop rotations can help disrupt disease and pest cycles, which gives crops the opportunity to grow without disturbances attributed to pests or diseases.
Doing preparations early can also help mitigate climate risks, as this gives farmers a leeway to do timely planting that reduces risks associated with late rains and droughts.
Preparations can include selecting resilient crop varieties better suited to current climatic conditions.
Those who wait until the last minute always face the challenge of failing to secure the crop varieties they would have been targeting. The tragedy with doing preparations at the last hour is that most of the best stock would have been exhausted by the early birds.
If preparations for the 2026 winter cropping season are started as early as now, chances are very high that farmers can also plan their water usage properly.
They will get the opportunity to assess their irrigation infrastructure’s expected proficiency, come the cropping season.
Early irrigation infrastructure improvements can be made to ensure adequate moisture for winter crops, especially where rain-fed agriculture is less reliable.
For now, those farmers intending to produce wheat, barley or even potatoes, have the chance to even find alternative sources of water or even equipment to augment what they already have if they are planning bigger hectarages that last season’s.
Timely preparations can help farmers access government support, subsidies, or financing options effectively.
At the moment, focus should be on aligning self-sufficiency with the broader national policies aimed at agricultural transformation. It is also encouraging to note that Government policies are pro-agriculture given that the country’s economy is agro-based.
Government has been extensively supporting agricultural through various schemes that range from input to mechanisation support.
Early planning is a sure sign of being organised on the part of both the farmers and Government, which creates a conducive environment for both local and foreign investors to come on board and support agriculture.
This helps drive innovation and modern practices in line with the current developments in the changing agricultural landscape globally.
At a time like this when everything being done for agriculture must be aligned to what is happening climatically, engaging research institutions can lead to the development of improved seed varieties and farming techniques that help enhance productivity.
Preparing for seasons early leaves room for agricultural extension workers to train farmers on best practices, pest management, and modern technologies for crop production.
And this is one sure recipe for successful agricultural production largely touted as one of the key pillars anchoring the country’s charge towards the attainment of an upper middle income economy.
Above all, strategic planning translating into early preparations can easily be considered as market readiness too.
It allows crop producers time to understand market dynamics and consumer preferences that can guide what quantities of each crop to plant.
It is this pre-season market analysis that often leads to improved pricing strategies.
And besides giving the farmers a headway into the season, early season preparations often enhance supply chain logistics for producers. They can get guidance from prevailing state of affairs, as the season progresses on how to plan to transport and store produce.
This knowledge is vital for managing supply chains efficiently, ensuring that the harvested crops reach markets timely.
Essentially, early preparations for the approaching winter cropping season are essential for achieving the ambitious target of becoming self-sufficient for crops like wheat, potatoes and barley by 2030.
Potatoes have in recent times been hogging the limelight as a crucial food crop in the wake of shifting preferences in the general populace. Many people are moving from being sadza-centric to using wheat, rice and potato products as their staple diets, thanks to the push to eat healthily.
By focusing on these critical aspects, the country not only secures food and economic stability but also enhances its agricultural resilience against climatic challenges.
Early preparations create a foundation for a robust agricultural sector that can thrive and contribute significantly to national goals.
