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Herald Reporter
THE Government will provide smallholder farmers with three hectares of wheat inputs under the Presidential input programme for this winter’s wheat production and has assured uninterrupted supply of electricity and fuel for farmers, so the expected record harvest will be achieved.
This programme is targeting 20 000ha of wheat to small holder farmers.
Wheat farmers have a target of 85 000 hectares set by Government, and authorities have now promised there will be no power cuts for farmers to ensure maximum yield.
Wheat is grown under irrigation and farmers need assured power supplies to pump water and run the irrigation equipment.
Rainfall is negligible during the growing season, but with inputs and uninterrupted irrigation, a large crop is assured.
In an update by the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry, the Government assured farmers of uninterrupted power supplies in the forthcoming winter wheat season as the country aims at maintaining wheat self-sufficiency.
“Electricity will be ring fenced to all wheat production clusters during the wheat production cycle starting May,” said the ministry. “Government will support irrigating smallholder farmers with each up to three hectares worth of inputs. This programme is targeting 20 000ha of wheat.”
Government has also committed to paying all grain farmers promptly.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka emphasised that timeous payment to farmers was crucial, adding that all was in place to ensure a smooth farming season.
“We want to pay farmers within 42 hours and we are still committed to do that. We want to make sure that farmers receive their timeous payments,” said the ministry.
Permanent secretary in the Ministry, Dr John Basera, said the winter wheat cycle requirement was 120 megawatts, adding that the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) had ring-fenced the required electricity for wheat production clusters in the country.
“All the dominoes and processes have been lined up so that the 120 megawatts are availed specifically for the winter wheat growing areas,” he said.
“Prioritisation of the wheat sub-sector is set to ensure that the country has a successful season.”
The targeted 85 000 hectares are expected to produce 408 000 tonnes of the cereal, well above the 375 000 tonnes of last year and the minimum of 360 000 tonnes needed for self-sufficiency.
A target of 7 700ha has been set for barley production this year, most of which goes to malt for beer.
The wheat crop would be supported through private contractors, Government’s National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS), Presidential wheat support scheme and self-financed growers.
CBZ Agro-Yield is targeting at contracting 20 000ha at a projected average yield of 4,8 tonnes/ha, with the estimated production set at 96 000 tonnes.
The AFC Land Bank is targeting at contracting 15 000ha with a projected yield of 4,8t/ha and the estimated production is 72 000 tonnes.
The private sector and self -financed scheme will contract 25 000ha of wheat with a projected average yield of 4.8t/ha to give an estimated production of 120 000 tonnes, while the Presidential scheme is targeted for 20 000ha at a projected average yield of 4.8t/ha, and estimated production is 96 000 tonnes.
Online Reporter