Story by Tendai Munengwa
THE record wheat hectarage planted this season has set a strong foundation for the country to resume wheat exports and earn the much-needed foreign currency.
Officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development led by Professor Obert Jiri toured wheat farms and dams in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central Province, this Tuesday to assess the progress being made by farmers to feed the nation.
At Cde Aaron Nhepera’s farm, the officials witnessed a thriving crop on a 60-hectare piece of land, with the farmer praising continued support from government.
“We started small after getting land but with the support that we have been getting from government agricultural programmes, we are weaning ourselves to do it our own. I have 160 hectares of centre pivots and with inputs programmes like the ARDA inputs support scheme I am expecting to produce over seven tonnes of wheat per hectare,” said Cde Nhepera.
The tour also revealed a positive picture of the prospects of the country achieving adequate wheat output and surplus to resume exports of the strategic crop.
“The crop that we are witnessing is so exciting and the fact that we have surpassed the targeted hectarage of 120 000 hectares, the fact that we have over 100 000 metric tonnes in our reserve after disbursing the bulk to drought relief food programmes. We are assured that with our farmers now capable of producing high yields, the country is on the right direction to resume exports we have inquiries from Mozambique and Malawi who need our wheat, so with the expected bumper harvest for the second time, nothing will stop us from exporting, and rake in the much needed foreign currency for the country,” said Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary, Professor Obert Jiri.
Zimbabwe used to export surplus grain wheat and maize into the SADC region when the country earned its status as the bread-basket of Southern Africa, with the Second Republic setting the country on that positive trajectory.
With 122 000 hectares now under wheat nationwide, and under close monitoring by extension officers, the county is targeting to break another new record by producing over 600 thousand metric tonnes of wheat this season.
