Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE’S leading media house, Zimpapers, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, is set to host the Winter Crop Revolution Conference in Bulawayo tomorrow.
This pivotal indaba comes on the heels of a historic national agricultural achievement, a record-breaking wheat harvest of 563 961 tonnes, surpassing the previous year’s 467 000 tonnes.
This marks the highest wheat yield since the advent of commercial wheat farming in 1966, securing Zimbabwe’s wheat self-sufficiency for the third consecutive year.
Riding on this momentum, the upcoming conference aims to extend these gains to other critical winter crops in the 2025 planting season.
Among these, potatoes have emerged as a cornerstone in Zimbabwe’s agricultural agenda, alongside barley, soya beans, and other legumes. Potatoes are particularly valued as an affordable and nutritious staple, increasingly vital for household food security nationwide.
Zimpapers Public relations and events co-ordinator, Mrs Hilda Marijeni, said the event has drawn overwhelming interest.
“The full subscription of the Winter Crop Revolution Conference is a strong testament to the growing interest and commitment within Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
“It signals the sector’s readiness to embrace innovative solutions, optimise winter farming practices, and collectively tackle food security challenges,” she said.
“The overwhelming response also reflects how farmers are stepping up, ready to play their part in ensuring food security across the country.”
Mrs Marijeni also stressed the critical role of the media in shaping the agricultural discourse.
“Equally important is the role of Zimpapers, a leading media house in shaping the national discourse on food security. By using its wide-reaching platforms to convene key stakeholders and amplify vital agricultural conversations, Zimpapers is helping drive awareness, policy engagement and actionable solutions at scale,” she said.
“This kind of media-driven advocacy is crucial in mobilising collective efforts toward a more food-secure Zimbabwe.”
The conference will feature keynote addresses from top agricultural policymakers and thought leaders.
The indaba aims to deepen understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Zimbabwe’s winter cropping landscape.
Key sessions will focus on sustaining wheat production, expanding potato production and diversification of winter crops.
There will also be in-depth discussion on the emerging potential of potatoes as a flagship winter crop, policy and regulatory framework and crop insurance and risk management.
“The ultimate goal is for participants to gain a deeper understanding of the winter crop revolution, particularly wheat and potatoes. We hope to strengthen partnerships across the agricultural value chain to boost production, improve processing and unlock new markets for Zimbabwe’s winter crops,” she said.
Mrs Marijeni said the conference has been made a success by the involvement of tertiary institutions, seed houses, agriculture inclined parastatals, water and power utility entities.
