Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE has launched an aggressive winter cropping drive targeting 125 000 hectares of wheat, with Government rolling out comprehensive support under the Presidential Input Scheme to anchor production and secure national food supplies.
The push comes as the wheat planting window, which runs from May 1 to May 31, shifts into full swing, with authorities urging farmers to expedite planting to safeguard yields and build on last season’s record‑breaking performance.
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, said the season had started on a strong footing, with inputs already in circulation across the country.
“We are now deep in the wheat planting season. All inputs under the Presidential Input Support Programme are available and distribution has already started,” he said. Under the scheme, farmers are receiving a full input package comprising seed, basal and top‑dressing fertilisers, as well as herbicides — a move expected to enhance productivity and reduce production risks.
The country is aiming to produce 662 500 metric tonnes of wheat this year, up from the 2025 record harvest of over 639 000 tonnes, which surpassed the national annual consumption requirement of 615 000 tonnes.
The strategic goal is to consolidate wheat self‑sufficiency and generate a surplus, reinforcing national food security. To support the programme, Government has ring‑fenced 150 megawatts of electricity for irrigation — a critical enabler for winter wheat production — while strengthening public‑private partnerships to ensure timely input supply and financing.
A multi‑pronged funding model has been deployed for the season, with support coming from the National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS), financed by AFC Bank and CBZ Bank, private contractors, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), the Presidential Input Scheme and self‑financed commercial farmers. Despite global supply chain pressures, authorities say measures are in place to minimise disruptions, particularly around fertiliser availability.
“We are seeing some delays, especially for private‑sector fertiliser linked to global developments, but we are facilitating to ensure that supplies arrive in time,” said Prof Jiri.
Meanwhile, the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has introduced a three‑day payment framework for wheat deliveries, a move designed to improve farmer viability and boost confidence in the sector.
On the production front, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has already commenced winter cropping operations, targeting 65 000 hectares — representing 52 percent of the national wheat hectarage.
This is expected to contribute approximately 300 000 tonnes to the national output.
ARDA chief executive officer Mr Tinotenda Mhiko expressed confidence in the season’s prospects, citing strong co‑ordination under contract farming models.
“We have already started winter production and our target is 65 000 hectares. Farmers under our contract model are expecting yields of between five and seven tonnes per hectare,” he said.
Mr Mhiko said ARDA was also advancing rural industrialisation through integrated production systems that link farming to processing, storage and logistics.
