Zimpapers hosts wheat conference

Midlands Bureau Chief

Integrated media group, Zimpapers, will tomorrow host a wheat conference in Harare to provide a platform for engagement between the Government and key stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

Major topics for discussion will include new crop varieties, disease management and innovation, land preparation, tillage procedures and soil conditioning, food security in Zimbabwe and beyond, mechanisation, irrigation, value chains, and access to markets.

Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri, will be the guest of honour.

Professor Jiri will share the podium with key speakers among them chief executive for Zinwa Engineer Taurai Maurikira, acting managing director of ZETDC Engineer Abel Gurupira, chairman of Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe Dr Tafadzwa Musarara, chief director agricultural engineering, mechanisation and farm infrastructure development Engineer Edwin Zimunga, group chief executive AFC Holdings Mr Francis Macheka, and GMB chief executive Dr Edson Badarai.

In a statement, Zimpapers chief executive Mr Pikirayi Deketeke said the platform was designed to come up with innovations and strategies to further boost food security in the country.

“With a focus on exploring wheat-based food security as Zimbabwe’s best foot forward, the conference will run under the theme: “Activation of the wheat for food security strategy; how to achieve 120 000ha post-El Nino.”

“Our principal partners are the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development with whom we have established a good partnership in disseminating information on Government policies and strategies,” said Mr Deketeke.

“Our partnership has brought together key stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to share notes as the country forges ahead to ensure food security and attain a middle-income economy by the year 2030, with the agricultural sector playing a key role.”

Zimpapers has hosted two conferences so far in Bulawayo on livestock disease management and land distribution. The forthcoming wheat conference comes at a time when the country is seeking to increase the wheat harvest and work out ways of increasing wheat consumption in Zimbabwe.

“The conference is a platform for Government and stakeholders to come together and deliberate on early planting and pre-planting processes for wheat, to ensure continued harvest successes and continued contribution of wheat farming to the country’s food security and economic success.

“In addition, wheat farming presents a rewarding opportunity for farmers seeking to contribute to food security and economic growth,” said Mr Deketeke.

He noted that successful wheat farming had already ensured that the country saved the much-needed foreign currency by stopping wheat imports.

“We note that wheat farming is critical to the country’s agricultural sector as it is the second most important strategic food security crop in Zimbabwe after maize,” he said.

Wheat has also become a staple crop given its high demand for its by-products, bread. Flour made out of wheat was the main ingredient for making bread and other confectioneries consumed daily by mostly urban Zimbabweans. Consumption of pasta was also growing, while wheat bran was mainly used in the stock-feeds manufacturing sector.

Zimbabwe registered its largest wheat harvest last year with a significant surplus after gaining self-sufficiency the year before for the first time. Ethiopia is the only other African country self-sufficient in wheat.

“There is, therefore, a need to ensure continued success through Government, farmers, and stakeholder engagement, said Mr Deketeke.

Government has set an ambitious target of 120 000 hectares of wheat for this year’s season, which needs all hands on deck.

“The sector can, however, achieve that, riding on the confidence that it did 80 000 in 2022 and 90 192 in 2023. The importance of this year’s winter wheat season is that it is a key food security thrust that must be accomplished at all costs, said Mr Deketeke.