adminwheat this season.
“Most farmers failed to plant wheat because of viability. The current wheat price is not viable and therefore many farmers would not want to grow the crop,” he said.
Mr Chabikwa said it costs US$2 950 to produce a hectare of wheat with an average of three to four tonnes per hectare.
“With the current wheat producer, price, it will be difficult for farmers to break even and obviously farmers no longer want to venture into unviable projects,” he said.
He also said next season farmers unions are going to lobby Government to re-introduce the funding for wheat production. Mr Chabikwa complained that some traditional farmers were willing to grow the crop this season but faced funding challenges.
This season a total of US$84 million was required to fund wheat production.
The bulk of the money was expected to come from the private sector which includes millers and bakers.
Millers withdrew their funding at the last minute after Government failed to come up with a Statutory Instrument to guide the contract system. Wheat production has been on the decline for the past seasons with Zimbabwe becoming a net importer.
Online Reporter