Online Reporter
Nyasha Simbisai
Agriculture Correspondent
HARVESTING of early-planted winter wheat has started, with 300 tonnes reaped from fields in Matabeleland, the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development has said.
Farmers planted 130 316 hectares, surpassing the national target of 125 000ha by more than 5 000ha.
The bulk of the crop is reported to be in good condition countrywide.
According to the latest Agricultural Development Advisory Services (ADAS) weekly report, 41 hectares had been harvested by Monday, producing 300,3 tonnes in the initial stages of harvesting.
“A total of 130 316ha of winter wheat has been planted, with the crop generally reported to be in good condition across the country.
“Wheat harvesting has started, and 41ha have been harvested to date,” reads the report.
Matabeleland North accounted for 40ha of the harvested area, producing 300 tonnes at an average yield of 7,5 tonnes per hectare, while one hectare harvested from the communal sector in Manicaland produced 0,3 tonnes.
“Harvesting in Matabeleland South has been delayed by drizzle, which increased moisture levels.
“Top-dressing should be completed by the booting stage, while adequate irrigation must be maintained during heading to prevent moisture stress and protect yield potential,” reads the report.
ADAS advised farmers and the public to promptly report quelea roosting and breeding sites, as well as disease outbreaks.
Meanwhile, wheat field days are ongoing across provinces and districts, supported by Early Warning, Early Action (EWEA) advisories to promote the timely adoption of recommended practices.
This year’s wheat hectarage represents 104 percent of the national target, with six of the country’s eight wheat-producing provinces exceeding their respective targets.
Mashonaland West leads production with 36 237ha planted against a target of 35 000ha, followed by Mashonaland Central with 25 476ha against 25 000ha and Mashonaland East with 25 850ha against 25 000ha.
Manicaland planted 16 375ha against a target of 15 000ha, while the Midlands put 13 567ha under wheat against a target of 12 500ha.
Masvingo planted 5 302ha against a target of 5 000ha, Matabeleland South recorded 4 603ha against 4 500ha, while Matabeleland North planted 2 906ha against its target of 3 000ha.
Attention is now shifting from crop establishment to protecting the standing crop and ensuring timely harvesting, particularly as wheat planted during the main May planting window enters the highly vulnerable grain-filling and maturity stages.
Wheat planted between May 1 and 15 is at the hard dough stage and faces a very high quelea risk, while the crop planted between May 16 and 31, which constitutes the largest planting window, is at the soft dough stage and faces peak risk.
Early-planted April wheat, now at the hard dough to maturity stage, also faces a high to very high risk, although vulnerability declines as harvesting progresses.
The latest surveillance report shows new quelea outbreak reports concentrated in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and the Midlands.
Authorities are using targeted control measures, including drone application of Fenthion 640 ULV, while manual scaring, netting and the application of repellents remain options, particularly for smaller wheat fields.
Farmers and communities have consequently been urged to immediately report quelea roosting and breeding sites, as well as crop disease outbreaks, to enable rapid intervention before significant grain losses occur.
The winter wheat harvest feeds directly into the Government’s broader food security strategy.
The Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) currently holds 269 603,30 tonnes of grain, including 67 895,61 tonnes of wheat.
The Government intends to build a dedicated 600 000-tonne Strategic Grain Reserve by October 2027, drawing supplies from the 2025/26 summer harvest and the 2026 and 2027 winter seasons.
With harvesting now underway, the focus is firmly on securing every tonne standing in the fields through timely harvesting, vigilant pest control and sound post-harvest management, turning the country’s expanded wheat hectarage into grain safely delivered to national and commercial markets.
