tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
GOVERNMENT has extended the wheat planting deadline from March 31 to June 15, as it targets to meet the revised 90 000-hectares target.
Farmers have so far put more than 47 000 hectares under winter wheat, representing a 41 percent increase from the same period a year ago.
In a statement, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera said the new target will see the country achieving a wheat harvest of about 430 000 tonnes.
“The Government wishes to advise farmers of the 2023 winter wheat production that planting should happen no later than June 15, 2023,” he said.
“The record 2022 wheat harvest laid a solid foundation for sustainable growth of the sub-sector.
“We are targeting 90 000 hectares to achieve over 430 000 tonnes of wheat this season. To date, farmers have planted 47 562 hectares of winter wheat and this is greatly appreciated.”
Zimbabwe,Dr Basera said, is positioning itself to be a net exporter of the cereal in the region.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter