Midlands sets target of 12  000 hectares of wheat

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief 

FARMERS in the Midlands Province have made significant strides in winter wheat planting, as over 1 000 hectares have already been planted, with 800 hectares having germinated. 

Winter wheat is planted between mid-April and the last week of May, with the first two weeks of May generally considered the best for planting period in the high-veld areas. 

While planting can sometimes extend into mid-June, this is usually discouraged due to reduced yield potential. In the low-veld areas, planting may begin even earlier. 

The province is poised for a strong rebound in winter wheat production this year, with an ambitious target of 12 000 hectares. 

Preparations are intensifying across the region as momentum builds, driven by Government support, including the Presidential Inputs Programme and growing interest from both commercial and smallholder farmers. 

Some farmers have already collected seed and fertilisers from Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots, in key wheat-producing zones. 

In an interview, Midlands Provincial Director for Agricultural Rural Development and Advisory Services, Ms Busiso Mavankeni, urged farmers, who have not yet started planting, to act swiftly in order to meet the timelines for the winter wheat season, which runs from May to August, with harvesting expected between October and December. 

“The province is targeting 12 000 hectares of wheat during the 2025 winter wheat season, the same target as last year. Last year, we achieved 12  081 hectares,” she said. 

Ms Mavankeni noted, planting to date has been concentrated in Kwekwe District, home to 85 percent of the province’s winter wheat producers. Prominent winter wheat farmers in Kwekwe include Mr Douglas Kwande of DCK Investments (DCK Farm), Mr Daniel Burger of Sherwood Park Estate and the First Family’s Pricabe Farm. 

Last year, DCK Farm had around 400 hectares under wheat, Sherwood Park Estate had 280 hectares, and Pricabe Farm had over 500 hectares. 

“Land preparation, contracting and planting are the major activities taking place across wheat-producing areas,” said Ms Mavankeni. 

She added that the late rains received in the province were beneficial to wheat farmers as they facilitated easier and quicker land preparation. 

“Our planted area stands at just over 1 000 hectares, of which 824 hectares have already germinated. Irrigated areas such as Sherwood Block in Kwekwe District and parts of Mberengwa, Lower Gweru and Shurugwi are the province’s wheat growing areas,” said Ms Mavankeni. 

She said there were various programmes supporting wheat cultivation, including the Presidential Inputs Programme (PIP), Arda Presidential (irrigation schemes) and Arda Joint Venture initiatives. “We urge farmers to scout for quelea birds, identify roosting sites and report these to Agritex extension officers or the Migratory Pests Department. Drones are available for bird control,” said Ms Mavankeni. 

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has assured farmers that they are guaranteed adequate water for irrigation this winter, as dam levels are higher than last season.