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Sithandazile Moyo Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) has expressed concern over lack of funding for their members to prepare for the winter wheat farming season saying this will affect the production of the cereal. In an interview, ZFU second vice-president Berean Mukwende said lack of adequate funding has caused most farmers to shun planting wheat this winter, as they could not secure enough inputs.
“There has been no increase in the number of farmers who will produce wheat this winter as most of them do not have enough funds to cater for the production costs hence they are reluctant to plant wheat, and those who decided to plant have reduced the number of hectares,” he said.
He said the hectarage, which has been set for the production of the crop this winter, is the same as that of the last winter season but noted that most farmers have not prepared much land for the crop yet.
“About 10,000 hectares has been set aside for the production of the crop this winter, as most farmers have not shown any interest in taking up the production of the crop due to lack of financial support,” he said.
Mukwende said another factor that has made those farmers who decided to plant the crop not to increase the number of hectares to be planted is that they are not assured getting enough power for irrigation.
“The farmers who have begun planting could not increase the number of hectares for the production of the crop as they are not assured that there will be enough power for irrigation purposes,” said Mukwende.
He said the demand for wheat in the country has increased as more people now eat bread and it could be an advantage to local farmers if they are supported to produce more of the crop.
“It is sad to note that local bread production has increased as more and more people now consume bread but our farmers are not able to meet the demand hence the country has to import. If our farmers could be supported and be guaranteed of the market then they would benefit from such opportunities,” said Mukwende.
He encouraged farmers to finish the planting of the crop no later than May 15 to ensure that they get a good yield and a crop of good quality.
Since 2000, the highest harvest was in 2006 when production reached a peak of 135,000 tonnes. In 2009, the country experienced the worst ever winter wheat season as it only managed to produce 12,000 tonnes. Since then, the highest yield that the farmers have managed in the last few years is last season’s harvest of 25,000 tonnes.
The country consumes about 450,000 tonnes each season and imports of at least 200,000 tonnes are needed to supplement local production every season.
Online Reporter