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Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
This year will go down in the history of farming in Zimbabwe as farmers a poised for a record highest wheat harvest since the beginning of the cereal’s production in 1966.
This season the Government has implemented several measures to ensure the harvest of at least 600 000 tonnes of wheat.
This will see the country recording a surplus as only 360 000 tonnes are needed for national annual consumption.
Zesa applauded ring fencing wheat farmers clusters and prioritising them even in times of load shedding.
Banks and contractors are encouraged to treat electricity as an input.
Any faults reported have been swiftly attended to.
Zinwa implemented seasonal billing and continues to assess adequacy of water for irrigating.
No monthly interest on overdue bills until farmers on stop order agreements have been paid.
Seed and fertilisers were adequate to cover 120 000ha of wheat.
On mechanisation, all farmers who need combine harvesters have been linked and grain dryers are available at Grain Marketing Depots(GMB).
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Professor Obert Jiri said wheat farmers have harvested nearly 22 153hectares with an estimated production of 114 751 tonnes as farmers intensify harvesting so they switch to the summer season crops.
“Wheat harvesting of the early planted crop is progressing well. This is critical as it paves the way for farmers to start preparing for the summer season. Equipment for harvesting is in place.
“We are targeting a bumper harvest of 600 000tonnes of wheat this season. Most of the wheat is now ready to be harvested. We want to complete harvesting by next month so that the crop will not be affected by the early rains,” he said.
He said there is no doubt that the target yield will be met following several interventions that are put in place to ensure that the season becomes successful.
Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) weekly report shows that the condition of 70 percent of the wheat is generally good with 30 percent in fair condition.
Majority of the wheat crop is hard dough meaning it is ready to be harvested.
Harvesting is expected to end by end of October
Farmers are encouraged to guard against quelea birds and avail adequate irrigation water to maturity and prepare standard fireguards around the wheat fields.
Farmers contracted under AFC, 11 696tonnes have been harvested, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) estates 2 820tonnes have been harvested, Under ARDA irrigation schemes 1 935 tonnes have so far been harvested, Under ARDA JVs 12 733tonnes have been harvested, CBZ Agro yield 8 843tonnes have so far been harvested. FCCA 36 000tonnes have been harvested, NMB has harvested 988 tonnes.
Under the Presidential Input Programme (PIP) programme 3 795 tonnes of wheat have been harvested.
Mashonaland West province is leading with 51 902 tonnes so far harvested followed by Mashonaland Central with31 384 tonnes.
Mashonaland East has harvested 12 245tonnes, Manicaland 9 286 Midlands 9 286 tonnes, Masvingo 5 679tonnes, Matabeleland North 1 713tonnes and Matabeleland South 1 699tonnes.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe said it is critical for farmers to set fireguards to prevent losses that may be caused by veld fires.
He also said farmers should protect the crop from quelea birds by reporting to the command centres .
“Some of the crop is ready to harvest while the other one is at the grain filling stage. So this means wheat is at different stages. Good agronomic practices are still needed to be implemented on wheat which is not yet ready to be harvested. Early harvesting is critical because we do not want our wheat to be affected by the early rains,” he said.
Grain reserves will be raised again for the third consecutive year with no wheat imports.
Online Reporter