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Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
The planting target for wheat has been raised from 85 000ha to 90 000ha, with the aim of increasing productivity and achieving record-breaking harvests for the 2023 winter wheat cropping and starting exports to other countries in the region.
Farmers have been urged to continue and accelerate planting before June 15 to ensure that the crop will not be affected by early rains.
A total of 85 000ha had been targeted for winter wheat this year and this was 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.
Farmers have so far planted 47 562 hectares of winter wheat as production of the crop continues to rise.
This is 41 percent above last year’s figure at the same time and there is improved electricity supply across the provinces for the production of the crop.
Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services chief director Professor Obert Jiri said wheat planting should happen not later than June 15, adding that farmers needed to accelerate the planting pace, increase the planting hectarage, and put all irrigable land under wheat production.
“The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development wishes to advise farmers of the 2023 winter wheat production revised target of 90 000 hectares,” he said. “Over and above wheat self-sufficiency, Zimbabwe is positioning herself to be a net exporter of wheat targeting the region.
“Furthermore, farmers are encouraged to visit their nearest agricultural extension officer for the necessary support on technical issues relating to seeding rate, irrigation management, fertiliser application regimes and any other good agricultural practice pertaining to wheat production.”
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe said the target was achievable, adding that it was not late to continue planting.
He urged farmers to speed up planting citing early rains as the major obstacle which hinders wheat production.
“Continue to plant, but farmers should speed up planting and cover as much ground as they can, but it is crucial to seek advice and work in hand with agronomists and Meteorological Services Department so that they advise them accordingly,” said Dr Makombe.
“Farmers should work like machines because the window period has passed and last year we lost some of our crops from the early rains. We do not want our crops to be affected by early rains, so early planting is recommended.”
Planting wheat after the deadline is not recommended as yields will be compromised by early rains.
Meanwhile, activities on the farms have currently hit fever pitch as farmers move to wrap up harvesting of crops like maize, while others are selling tobacco at the auction floors.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust president Mrs Depinah Nkomo said farmers were busy finalising harvesting other crops, adding that the majority were still planting wheat.
She said a good harvest was predicted because of abundant water for irrigation.
Mrs Nkomo said if the Grain Marketing Board facilitated payments to maize farmers on time, wheat production would be easily managed, as farmers could then continually recycle their capital so that they can fully engage in wheat production.
“We intend to increase wheat hectarage this season,” she said. “We have enough water for irrigation. We are aiming higher than last season. Farmers are now fully engaged in wheat planting.”
Mrs Martha Mukayu of Chitomborwizi near Chinhoyi said although farmers wanted to plant the wheat crop early, they failed to do so because of maize harvesting and tobacco selling.
“There was a lot of work to do,” she said.
“I grow crops such as maize, groundnuts and sorghum. They all needed harvesting and at the same time tobacco needed to be delivered to the floors and wheat planting needed to be done again. It was difficult for some of us to do all the work at the same time.”
Mr Thomas Chigage of Banket near Maheu said it was critical to plant wheat in May, adding that overlapping to June could cause the crop to be affected by rains.
“We need to follow our dates so that we do not compromise the quality of our crop,” he said. “Last year the late planted crop was affected. We need to speed up planting to avoid such disasters.”
This season, Government is well prepared in supporting wheat better than the previous seasons as it is working closely with important stakeholders such as ZESA and ZINWA to ensure that there is uninterrupted power supply as well as enough water for irrigation in the winter wheat season as the country aims at maintaining wheat self-sufficiency.
Government has also acquired equipment such as tractors and combine harvesters which will be administered through AFC and CBZ banks.
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 4,8 t/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 for wheat, at a projected average yield of 4.8t/ha, and estimated production is 96 000 tonnes.
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