Theseus Mauruki Shambare
ZIMBABWE is on course to meet its 600 000-tonne wheat target after farmers harvested more than 570 000 tonnes from 108 000 hectares (ha) by last week, strengthening national grain stocks as the threat of an El Niño-induced drought hangs over the 2026/2027 summer cropping season.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Professor Obert Jiri said harvesting was nearing completion, with the Government expecting the remaining crop to be reaped by the end of the week.
Zimbabwe planted 130 000ha of winter wheat, leaving approximately 22 000ha still to be harvested as of the latest assessment.
Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East account for the largest outstanding areas.
Prevailing dry conditions are, however, expected to speed up completion of the exercise.
“As of yesterday (Friday), we had harvested 108 000 hectares of the 130 000 hectares . . . and out of that 108 000 hectares, we had harvested almost 570 000 tonnes,” Prof Jiri said.
“We hope that by the end of this coming week, we will be finished. We hope to reach at least 600 000 tonnes when we do the harvesting.”
The anticipated output would consolidate Zimbabwe’s wheat self-sufficiency, with local production now exceeding the country’s traditional domestic requirements.
The achievement follows sustained Government efforts to expand domestic wheat production through irrigation development, mechanisation and increased participation by commercial and smallholder farmers.
Prof Jiri said growing agricultural output had strengthened the country’s capacity to meet domestic demand, although expansion of the milling and food-processing industries
was also changing wheat consumption patterns.
Industrial requirements have increased substantially over the past three years, reflecting population growth, expanding processing capacity and changing diets.
“The industry has expanded so much, from a requirement of less than 360 000 tonnes three years ago to now a requirement of more than 552 000 tonnes,” he said.
The increase in demand has continued to sustain specialised wheat imports, particularly hard wheat used in blending and gristing by the milling industry.
Zimbabwe, Prof Jiri said, continued importing these varieties because of their specific quality characteristics and suitability for industrial processing.
This means that, while the country has achieved overall wheat self-sufficiency, it still relies on imports to meet particular industrial specifications.
The distinction highlights the next phase of Zimbabwe’s wheat production ambitions, which will require not only increasing volumes but also diversifying locally produced wheat varieties to meet processors’ requirements.
Prof Jiri added that the Government remained committed to sustaining domestic production while exploring opportunities to supply external markets.
“We are now wheat self-sufficient and we are proud of that fact. We will continue to ensure that in terms of wheat, we continue to be self-sufficient and to produce enough for ourselves and hopefully for export as well,” he said.
The projected 600 000-tonne harvest would provide a strong foundation for the country’s food security and agro-industrial development while creating opportunities for local farmers to respond to growing demand for wheat.
The Government has already started rolling out measures to safeguard food supplies, support farmers, protect livestock and ensure adequate grain stocks in the anticipated lower rainfall 2026/2027 agricultural season.
The measures, contained in the six-pillar response strategy, include strengthening the strategic grain reserve, promoting climate-smart agriculture, mobilising financing for summer production, protecting livestock from drought, securing grain supplies and strengthening coordination among Government agencies and the private sector.
