Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter
THE 2023 winter wheat pre-planting seminar is set to be held in Banket, Mashonaland West province, on Friday.
Running under the theme “Nyika inorimwa nevene vayo”, the seminar will be headlined by Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr John Basera.
Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS) chief director Professor Obert Jiri said the event is a platform for Government officials to listen to farmers’ concerns and come up with plans for the cropping season.
“We urge all our stakeholders to attend this event so that we continue on our path of ensuring that Zimbabwe is wheat self-sufficient,” he said.
“Our aim this year is to encourage good agronomy practices and maximise yield rather than increasing hectares at the expense of yield output.”
CBZ and AFC Land Bank are financing Government’s National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS).
The financiers will participate at the seminar.
CBZ’s Agro Yield and AFC Land Bank plan to bankroll 35 000 hectares, which is 41 percent of the total area targeted this year.
Overall, Government is targeting to put 85 000 hectares under wheat, with a projected best-ever output of 408 000 tonnes.
The highest-ever wheat harvest is 371 131 tonnes, which was achieved last year.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter