Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe is poised to achieve a milestone in maize production with an anticipated output of 2.2 million tonnes, marking its fourth highest-ever harvest of the staple grain.
This was announced during yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing chaired by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere.
Cabinet received an update on the Second Round Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment Report, showing the projected harvest figures.
“The Report indicates that the area planted to maize increased from 1728897 hectares (ha) in the 2023/24 season to 1839373 hectares in the 2024/25 season.
“The 6,4 percent increase is marginally above the target of 1 800 000 hectares. Based on this assessment, maize production in the 2024/25 season is estimated at 2293556 tonnes, the fourth highest ever production by the country,” said Dr Muswere.
The update on the Second Round Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment Report also indicated that the production of tobacco, cotton, and sunflower had increased by 15 percent, 52 percent, and 303 percent respectively.
The Minister said the national herd currently stands at 5,7 million, a 0,4 percent increase from last year’s figures, with communal areas dominating and accounting for 64 percent of the total cattle population.
“A total of 94 623 tonnes of beef was produced in 2024, compared to 90 000 tonnes in 2023. Mashonaland East, Manicaland, and Midlands were the top milk-producing provinces in 2024, accounting for 89 percent of the country’s production of 115 million litres last year, a 10 percent increase.
“Overall fish production in 2024 is 31 296 tonnes, while crocodile skin sales increased by 34 percent,” said Dr Muswere.
Meanwhile, he said the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu, highlighted achievements of the Environment Protection, Climate Resilience, and Natural Resources Management pillar of the National Development Strategy 1 under the 100-day cycle projects.
At least 200 hectares of the Ditchwe Wetland in Makonde District, Ward 4, are being rehabilitated for improved human well-being and ecosystem management, while the restoration and protection of 154 hectares of the Chidobe Wetland in Hwange District, Ward 2, is on course, with 2 340 livestock and 400 households already benefiting from the project.
The establishment of a waste sorting and processing centre at the Tafara Integrated Resource Recovery Centre in Mabvuku, Harare Metropolitan Province, is on course; the construction of a state-of-the-art One Stop Pavilion at Hwange National Park Main Camp in Matabeleland North Province has reached 95 percent completion; the planting of 4000 indigenous trees on 2494 hectares of land at Zamazama, Bondongwe, Zunga-Tinhira, Cheza, Hananda, and Poshayi villages in Shurugwi District, Midlands Province, is on course; and the planting of 52000 fruit trees under the 45th Independence Plantation Legacy project in Gokwe North and South districts is at 95 percent completion.
The installation of 15 Prototype 3 Dimensional-Printed Automatic Weather Stations at 15 Meteorological Stations in Victoria Falls, Marondera, Hwange, Binga, Beitbridge, Kezi, Rupike, Kadoma, Zvishavane, Chipinge, Kanyemba, Mutoko, Mt Darwin, Chisumbanje, and West Nicholson is on schedule.
Peter Tanyanyiwa