Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
WHEAT harvesting is nearing completion, with farmers having harvested 470 393 tonnes of the crop, representing about 71 percent of the national target of 662 500 tonnes, as the Government moves to secure the harvest and consolidate gains in domestic wheat production.
The latest 2026 Winter Wheat Harvesting Report shows that 91 150 hectares have been harvested from the 130 316 hectares planted, at an average yield of five tonnes per hectare.
With harvesting expected to be completed soon, the focus is shifting towards ensuring that the remaining crop is gathered in time, protected against losses and delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to strengthen national grain reserves.
Farmers exceeded the initial planting target of 125 000 hectares by more than 5 000 hectares, expanding the area under wheat and boosting prospects for domestic supplies.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said farmers needed to work closely with harvesting contractors to ensure that the remaining wheat was harvested efficiently.
He said proper coordination of combine harvesters, fuel and transport was critical as the harvesting window approached its end, warning that delays could expose farmers to avoidable losses.
“We are encouraging farmers to plan and coordinate with contractors so that fields are ready, and fuel and transport are available when harvesting machinery arrives,” he said.
Prof Jiri said farmers should also pay attention to grain handling, moisture management and fire prevention to preserve the quality of the crop before it reaches the national reserves.
“Farmers have made significant investments in producing this crop, and it is important that the grain is harvested and handled properly before being delivered into the national reserves,” he said.
The wheat programme is a key component of the Government’s efforts to maintain domestic wheat self-sufficiency and ensure reliable supplies for the milling industry.
Zimbabwe has continued to expand winter wheat production through investments in irrigation, mechanisation, electricity supply and agricultural financing, helping farmers produce the cereal outside the main summer cropping season.
A total of 150 megawatts of electricity has been ring-fenced for agricultural production, while more than 256 958 hectares of irrigable land have been prepared to support farming activities.
Provincial figures show that Mashonaland Central is leading the harvest with 95 857 tonnes, followed by Mashonaland West with 86 051 tonnes.
Mashonaland East has harvested 55 420 tonnes, while Manicaland has contributed 31 647 tonnes. Matabeleland South has recorded 18 546 tonnes, followed by the Midlands with 13 800 tonnes, Matabeleland North with 10 626 tonnes and Masvingo with 5 973 tonnes.
The provincial figures reflect the contribution of the country’s major wheat-producing areas as farmers work to complete harvesting.
Beyond wheat, the winter cropping programme is targeting 6 500 hectares under barley, with production projected at between 45 500 and 50 000 tonnes. Irish potato production is also expected to reach 243 850 tonnes from 9 000 hectares.
As the wheat harvesting season draws to a close, the priority is to ensure that the remaining crop is collected without delays and safely delivered to the country’s grain reserves, sustaining supplies for the milling industry and strengthening food security.
