Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
FARMERS have harvested 317 918 tonnes of wheat, moving the country closer to half of its 662 500-tonne national target as the Government intensifies efforts to secure the winter crop and consolidate domestic wheat self-sufficiency.
The harvest represents approximately 48 percent of the targeted output, with harvesting operations continuing across the country following an expansion in the area planted under the crop.
The latest 2026 Winter Wheat Harvesting Report shows that 62 970 hectares have been harvested from the 130 316 hectares planted, at an average yield of five tonnes per hectare.
Farmers surpassed the initial planting target of 125 000 hectares by more than 5 000 hectares, expanding the area contributing to national wheat supplies and strengthening the prospects for domestic flour production.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the immediate task was to ensure that the crop already grown by farmers is harvested efficiently and protected against losses.
He said Government was working with farmers, contractors and financial institutions to improve the coordination of harvesting machinery and ensure that logistical challenges did not delay the collection of mature wheat.
Prof Jiri said farmers needed to prepare their fields and organise essential resources well before combine harvesters arrived, allowing contractors to work efficiently and cover as much land as possible within the harvesting period.
“We are encouraging farmers to plan and coordinate with contractors so that fields are ready, and fuel and transport is available when harvesting machinery arrives,” he said.
He said effective planning would help minimise idle time for harvesting equipment while ensuring that farmers did not lose valuable time when their crops were ready.
The permanent secretary also underscored the need for careful grain handling, moisture management and fire prevention, saying the success of the winter wheat programme depended not only on production but also on preserving the harvested crop.
“Farmers have made significant investments in producing this crop, and it is important that the grain is harvested and handled properly before being delivered into the national reserves,” he said.
Government is seeking to sustain the gains made in wheat production through coordinated support for irrigation, electricity supply, mechanisation and agricultural financing.
A total of 150 megawatts of electricity has been ring-fenced for agricultural production, while more than 256 958 hectares of irrigable land have been prepared.
The measures are intended to support agricultural activities and strengthen the capacity to produce crops during the winter season.
Provincial figures show that Mashonaland Central is leading as farmers in the province have so far harvested 95 857 tonnes, followed by Mashonaland West with 86 051 tonnes. Together, the two provinces have contributed more than 181 000 tonnes, accounting for over half of the national harvest recorded so far.
Mashonaland East has harvested 55 420 tonnes, while Manicaland has contributed 31 647 tonnes. Matabeleland South has recorded 18 546 tonnes, followed by the Midlands with 13 800 tonnes, Matabeleland North with 10 626 tonnes and Masvingo with 5 973 tonnes.
The provincial distribution highlights the contribution of the major wheat-producing areas, while harvesting continues in other parts of the country.
Beyond wheat, the winter cropping programme is targeting 6 500 hectares under barley, with production expected to range between 45 500 and 50 000 tonnes.
The crop supports domestic industrial requirements and forms part of efforts to increase local agricultural output.
Irish potato production is projected to reach 243 850 tonnes from 9 000 hectares, adding to the expected output from the winter farming programme.
The continued expansion of winter cropping reflects efforts to make greater use of irrigation and strengthen agricultural production outside the main summer season.
With wheat remaining an important raw material for the milling industry, securing the current harvest will be critical to maintaining reliable domestic supplies and reducing exposure to external supply pressures.
The priority now is to ensure the crop already produced reaches the national reserves, allowing the country to build on the progress made towards its annual wheat production target.
