Government races against rain to secure record wheat harvest

AS the rainy season commences, the Government has moved in to expedite farmers’ access to combine harvesters to ensure swift mop-up harvesting of the winter wheat crop across the country before the end of this month.

Winter wheat harvesting is nearing completion in all parts of the country with projections of a record breaking 600 000 tonnes yields expected after more than 120 000 hectares were planted for the 2025 season.

However, early drizzles in some areas such as Bulawayo that experienced sporadic rains on Sunday and Monday are worrying for wheat farmers in Nyamandlovu and Umguza District, who fear potential damage to wheat that is still yet to be harvested.

Rains can cause severe damage to wheat by causing water logging, pre-harvest sprouting and a decline in grain quality.

Earlier this month, 72 hectares of winter wheat at Tuli Makwe Irrigation Scheme in Gwanda District was wiped out by a hailstorm, leaving farmers devastated just a week before harvest.

The affected farmers, who were expecting to realise about 360 tonnes of wheat, faced the grim reality of producing less than half of the anticipated harvest.

The damage also negatively impacted Matabeleland South Province’s projected wheat output of 21 000 metric tonnes from 3 648 hectares this season. The hailstorm lasted about 45 minutes and left fields ravaged. The scheme had 20 hectares under centre pivot and 52 under flood irrigation.

In an interview yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the Government was alive to the reality of damage to winter wheat that can be caused by early rains.

“Government has expedited access to combine harvesters for all farmers so that those who are still lagging behind in harvesting their crop can do so before the onset of the rainy season,” he said.

“Our target of 600 000 tonnes for this season is still within reach and Government is working hard to make access to combine harvesters smooth so that we minimise losses.

“In the isolated cases of farmers that might be affected by early rains, Government has availed dryers, which have been installed in various centres across the country to reduce post-harvest loses of winter wheat,” said Prof Jiri.

Dryers are essential equipment in wheat harvesting to remove excess moisture from the crop to prevent spoilage, mold and bacteria growth.

On Monday, a Chronicle news crew visited Phaphamani Irrigation Scheme in Nyamandlovu, Umguza District, where 12 communal farmers — eight men and four women — who ventured into commercial growing of the wheat five years ago have started harvesting.

The farmers have already harvested eight hectares from a total of 15 hectares that was put under winter wheat.

“Phaphamani Irrigation Scheme farmers made use of a combine harvester they hired from an established farmer here in Nyamandlovu and have so far harvested eight hectares. For now the farmer has requested to use his combine harvester for a week and as soon as he is done, we will have access to the machine to finish harvesting the remaining seven hectares,” said local agricultural extension officer, Ms Sithabisiwe Mpofu.

“The wheat was planted in two stages so the seven hectares that is yet to be harvested has reached its maturity stage and is ready for harvesting. The early rains that were experienced in other parts of the region have not reached Nyamandlovu and we anticipate the rest of the wheat to be harvested by end of October,” said Ms Mpofu.

Established in 2002, the irrigation scheme started with 60 members, but over the years, the number of communal farmers dwindled as members left the project in despair to pursue other interests.

The few communal farmers that did not give up were rewarded for their perseverance and dedication to the growth of the irrigation scheme when the Government, through the Agricultural Rural Development Agency (Arda), assisted Phaphamani Irrigation Scheme with a centre pivot, acquired a tractor and rehabilitated several boreholes.

The shot in the arm by the Government with mechanised equipment a few years ago was the start of good things and has improved productivity levels for the members of Phaphamani Irrigation Scheme, said chairman, Mr Costa Moyo.

“When we started working at this irrigation scheme, we ploughed the land using donkeys and we did a lot of hard and manual work because we did not have any equipment to talk about at the time. So, a majority of members left.

“The Government then stepped in five years ago and revived the irrigation scheme by buying us a tractor and a centre pivot, which made our work a lot easier,” he said.

“New boreholes were drilled by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) and we had finance partners such as AFC (Agricultural Finance Corporation) coming to assist us with financial literacy programmes to turn our farming into a profitable business,” said Mr Moyo.

At the peak of the planting and harvesting season, Phaphamani Irrigation Scheme not only keeps its 12 members hard at work in the sprawling 50-hectare wheat fields but also needs over 10 casual workers who are drawn from the local communities.

Matabeleland North director for the Department of Agricultural Technical Extension Services (Agritex) Mr Mkhulunyelwa Ndlovu said as of yesterday only 300 hectares of wheat are yet to be harvested. The province put 2 384 hectares under winter wheat cropping.

“Our target of 11 900 tonnes of wheat is still within reach and we are only left with just 300 hectares of wheat that is still in the fields. Barring any last minute breakdown of equipment, we anticipate to finish harvesting the remaining 300 hectares in five days as farmers will be working during the day and at night,” he said.

“We are happy that the majority of farmers are still meeting the projected harvest of 5.5 tonnes per hectare, which puts on course to meet the 11 900 tonnes for the 2025 season,” said Mr Ndlovu.