Mashonaland West Province workshop focuses on strategies to enhance agricultural production for 2025/26

Walter Nyamukondiwa

Mashonaland West Bureau Chief

Stakeholders in the agriculture value chain in Mashonaland West Province have gathered to strategise on ways to optimise production in line with set provincial targets.

The workshop will consider the seasonal weather forecast and develop strategies to achieve targets and align with the National Crops, Horticulture, Fisheries and Livestock Summer Plan.

Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo officially opened the workshop on Wednesday.

“This workshop is to disseminate the Cabinet memorandum on the Crops, Horticulture, Fisheries and Livestock Summer Plan: 2025/2026,” she said.

“The early indications we have are that the 2025/26 summer season will have normal rains. This Summer Plan is an implementation tool for the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (2026 – 2030).”

Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) acting director, Mrs Evelyn Ndoro, implored farmers to collaborate with service providers for increased production.

“Our target this year is to increase yield and production. Last season the provincial average yield per hectare was 1,5 tonnes and this season we want 1,8 tonnes per hectare,” said Mrs Ndoro.

Each farmer, she said, should formulate strategies to surpass targets to contribute to the province’s target.

The province is targeting 360 000ha for maize expected to yield 680 000 tonnes with focus on increasing production of other cereals such as sorghum, finger and pearl millet among others.