Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
MASHONALAND Central Province is targeting another strong winter wheat season following last year’s record-breaking performance that made it the country’s top wheat-producing province.
Speaking at a wheat seminar with farmers and stakeholders in Mashonaland Central, Medlina Magwenzi, Chief Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Services Development, said the province surpassed its previous target during the 2025 season.
“We had a target of about 125 000 hectares, and we actually went beyond that to around 128 000 hectares,” she said.
“Mashonaland Central became the highest-producing province last season.”
Ms Magwenzi said Government officials are conducting wheat seminars across the country to engage farmers, contractors, seed suppliers and irrigation stakeholders ahead of the 2026 winter cropping season.
She said she personally attended the Mashonaland Central seminar because of the province’s outstanding performance during the previous season, particularly under difficult El Niño conditions.
Despite optimism among farmers, Magwenzi acknowledged that reduced water levels in major dams, especially Mazowe Dam, could affect production targets this season.
“The northern part of Zimbabwe received rain late, and the season ended early. Mazowe Dam, which supports many farmers, has lower water levels than expected,” she said.
As a result, the province slightly reduced its initial target from last season’s levels.
However, Magwenzi expressed confidence that farmers would still achieve or even exceed expectations through alternative water sources and strong farmer commitment.
“Farmers are raring to go. They are determined and encouraged by last season’s success,” she said. On preparedness, Magwenzi said the government had already distributed critical farming inputs despite global fertiliser procurement challenges linked to tensions in the Middle East.
“As we speak, seed and fertilisers under the Presidential Input Programme are already at Grain Marketing Board depots, and distribution has started,” she said.
She added that contractors, including the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, were ready to support farmers, while institutions such as ZINWA, mechanisation departments and pest control teams were also prepared for the season.
“We are saying the inputs are in the right places at the right time for farmers’ planting,” said Magwenzi.
“The enabling environment is now in place, and we are confident the programme will succeed.”
