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Agriculture Reporter—
Government is targeting a 17,6 percent increase in wheat production from 2013 output in 2014. In his 2014 National Budget statement proposals in Parliament in December, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa also said wheat production costs were prohibitive in the country.
Minister Chinamasa said Government would work towards increasing wheat production from 24 700 tonnes in 2013 to 29 000 tonnes in 2014.
Zimbabwe is a traditional net importer of wheat, but yields have been declining over the past decade.
“It costs approximately US$1 200 to grow a hectare of wheat in Zimbabwe against US$230 in Ukraine, US$580 in Russia and US$600 in Australia among others,” he said.
Wheat production is estimated to have declined from 33 700 tonnes in 2012, to about 24 700 tonnes in 2013.
“This is on account of declines in the area planted from 11 600ha in 2012 to around 8 500ha this year . . .
“Challenges that have continued to affect the production of the crop include erratic power supply for irrigation, funding and high production costs, among others, making the production of the crop unviable,” he said.
He said production in major growers like Canada was competitive as wheat was largely produced using natural rainfall as opposed to an irrigated crop in Zimbabwe.
Financial institutions are not keen to fund wheat citing the high risks involved, while the private sector has complained of the absence of a regulatory framework to guide grains contract farming.
Improved production for 2014 is mainly premised on increased private sector funding and contract farming arrangements.
This requires reliable electricity supply for irrigation.
Some agricultural experts say the country should simply stop focusing on production and rely solely on wheat imports, while others say the crop is strategic and relying on imports alone could be dangerous.
Financial institutions are not keen to fund wheat citing the high risks involved, while the private sector has complained of the absence of a regulatory framework to guide grains contract farming.
The introduction of a regulatory framework in this regard, as well as for oil crops, will likely increase funding for such produce.
Online Reporter