Elita Chikwati, Nyasha Simbisai
Agriculture Correspondent
Farmers have so far harvested over 82 000 tonnes of wheat, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development encouraging growers to take advantage of the current break in rains to accelerate harvesting and minimise losses caused by early rains.
The country recently received rains, with preliminary reports indicating that only 67 hectares of the 130 316 hectares planted this year were affected.
According to the latest Agricultural Development Advisory Services (ADAS) report, farmers have harvested 14 648 hectares yielding 82 032 tonnes of wheat at an average yield of 5,7 tonnes/ha.
Mashonaland West is leading the list after harvesting 43 202 tonnes, Manicaland 10 665 tonnes, Mashonaland Central 6 410 tonnes, Matabeleland North 5 380 tonnes and Matabeleland South 5 142 tonnes.
Manicaland and Masvingo have so far recorded yields of 2 372 tonnes and 1 031 tonnes respectively.
ADAS chief director, Mrs Medlinah Mangwenzi, said the rains had delayed harvesting in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland North.
Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, said not much damage was done by the recent rains but urged farmers with mature wheat to accelerate harvesting, make full use of every dry spell and take advantage of available dryers to minimise losses from the current rains.
He said prolonged wet spells without sunshine could pose a risk to mature wheat, making timely harvesting and drying critical to safeguarding grain quality.
He said sunshine breaks expected in most wheat-growing areas should provide farmers with critical harvesting windows.
“Farmers that have wheat which is ready for harvesting should utilise the available time to accelerate the harvesting process and also make use of dryers.
“For wheat that has already reached maturity, prolonged exposure to wet conditions could complicate harvesting and affect grain quality,” he said.
Government has mobilised 293 combine harvesters for wheat harvesting and strategically deployed the machinery to secure the crop, while tightening measures against veld fires that could destroy fields and harvested grain.
Prof Jiri said farmers should closely follow local weather forecasts and immediately deploy combine harvesters whenever conditions permit.
The Government has also strengthened post-harvest handling infrastructure, including the Grain Marketing Board smart silos with drying capabilities, while commercial grain dryers provide another option for farmers harvesting grain with elevated moisture levels.
“Remember, we do have the smart silos with dryer capabilities. We also have dryers that are available commercially,” Prof Jiri said.
“We encourage farmers to take advantage of these drying facilities so that they harvest and dry as quickly as possible.”
While the rains present a challenge to mature wheat awaiting harvesting, Prof Jiri said they could prove beneficial to crops still completing grain filling and consolidating yield.
“These rains may also be good for the wheat that is still rapidly consolidating its yield, and we expect the yield to be enhanced by some of these rains in most areas where the wheat is still at that stage,” he said.
The country, which used to be a net importer of wheat, is now self-sufficient and is targeting to produce at least 662 000 tonnes of wheat this season.
The Government progressively expanded wheat production through irrigation development, mechanisation, improved seed varieties, financing arrangements and increased participation by both commercial and smallholder farmers.
The immediate priority is now to secure the mature crop before sustained rains set in, preserving both grain quality and the gains made during the winter production season.
