derick.khumalo
Theseus Mauruki Shambare in Matabeleland South
PARLIAMENT has called for increased resourcing of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) to enable the State-owned agricultural institution to fully utilise its estates and expand its contribution to national food security after an oversight visit to ARDA Antelope Estate in Matabeleland South.
The call comes after the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development observed strong wheat production at the estate, where ARDA planted 633 hectares of winter wheat expected to yield above eight tonnes per hectare.
Committee chairperson Hon Felix Maburutse said the performance at Antelope Estate demonstrated ARDA’s capacity to independently drive large-scale agricultural production while supporting Zimbabwe’s Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR).
He said Government should prioritise resourcing ARDA estates so that they operate at full capacity and complement efforts by private farmers and smallholder producers in ensuring national food security.
“ARDA have good capacity to utilise all their estates on their own. What we would advise Government is to resource ARDA so that they can operate with their estates to the highest capacity, while at the same time assisting our small farmers,” said Hon Maburutse.
He said the production levels being achieved at Antelope Estate were evidence that State-owned farms could play a critical role in transforming Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
“On this farm, if you are talking of getting seven tonnes and above per hectare, that is a very good figure to talk about in serious business,” he said.
ARDA Matabeleland regional agronomy manager Mr Ndodana Ncube said the estate had established 633 hectares of wheat during the winter cropping season, with planting completed on April 18.
He said the crop was already approaching maturity and harvesting was expected to begin at the end of September.
“We are optimistic that we are going to reach above eight tonnes per hectare, and that is going to be a massive contribution towards the Strategic Grain Reserve from ARDA Antelope Estate,” said Mr Ncube.
He attributed the strong crop performance to favourable conditions, including adequate water supplies following good rains received last season and improved irrigation reliability.
Mr Ncube said Antelope Dam was full to capacity, allowing the estate to irrigate without restrictions throughout the season.
“This year we were lucky because we received rains up to late April. Some of the wheat that was planted in April germinated through natural rainfall, and that moisture remained adequate as a reserve in the soils,” he said.
He said improved coordination with power utility authorities had reduced disruptions during the production cycle.
“Most wheat-growing farms in Matabeleland South were ring-fenced, such that whenever there was a fault, communication was made to ZESA and the response was expeditious,” he said.
Hon Maburutse said ARDA’s partnerships with private investors through joint ventures were also improving production across the authority’s estates.
He, however, noted that Antelope’s performance showed that ARDA had the capacity to operate independently and maximise production from its own land.
“Joint ventures are bringing a very good improvement as far as farming is concerned, but this instance shows that ARDA can also do 634 hectares on its own,” he said.
The visit formed part of an eight-day Committee oversight tour of ARDA estates and supported farms across Zimbabwe’s eight rural provinces.
