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Natasha Chamba, Business Reporter
GOVERNMENT has availed US$120 million towards the purchase of critical inputs to support farmers under the 2019 winter wheat production, a Cabinet Minister has said.
The country has set a target of 75 000 hectares (ha) during this year’s winter wheat season with anticipated high yields set to improve domestic supply and cut the import bill.
Under the Command Agriculture model, an import substitution programme, Government has indicated plans for the country to plant 60 000ha with an additional 15 000ha to be sponsored by the private sector. The development comes at a time when local agro-processing companies are grappling with foreign currency shortages to import.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, told Business Chronicle that Government had increased its support for winter wheat production to reduce forex demand for cereal imports.
“Zimbabwe is targeting to put a total of 75 000ha under winter wheat production during the 2019 winter wheat production and US$120 million was invested in purchasing of inputs, tillage and the whole production process,” she said.
With 75 000ha expected to be planted by the end of this month, the country is expected to produce over 375 000 metric tonnes of wheat up from 165 000 metric tonnes achieved last season.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the country would most likely import an estimated 75 000 tonnes of wheat to bridge the gap against estimated demand of about 450 000 metric tonnes.
Wheat demand has risen from 400 000 metric tonnes in 2015 to 450 000 metric tonnes in 2018 due to the change in lifestyle and production of various food stuffs that need wheat.
Agricultural experts have welcomed Government’s efforts to support the sector arguing that increased local wheat production would save the country forex whilst creating jobs through the cereal’s value chain.
Due to economic challenges, wheat production has remained subdued from a peak of about 325 000 metric tonnes in early 2000s to as low as about 160 000 metric tonnes last year.
This shows Zimbabwe is less than 40 percent self-sufficient in wheat production. Meanwhile, the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 2018 introduced a project in support of wheat production through innovative platforms called the Technologies for the African Agriculture Transformation (TAAT).
The same wheat initiative is being implemented in Zimbabwe and seeks to achieve transformational impact and sustainable increases in wheat production for enhanced food security, economic growth, and poverty alleviation.
TAAT is working with the Government of Zimbabwe to improve yield levels to an average of six tonnes per ha from the previous four tonnes and this is likely to positively impact on the wheat output.
— @queentauruszw
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