Story by Tendai Munengwa
THE 2025 national winter wheat crop is showing strong potential, with expectations high that farmers can hit a new record in terms of grain production this season.
The Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), a strategic parastatal given a mandate by the government to produce adequate grain for the national strategic reserves, is leading efforts through its contract farming scheme aimed at bolstering food security.
The parastatal has contracted over 60 000 hectares, expected to produce over 300 000 tonnes of wheat this season.
At different farms contracted by ARDA, the winter wheat is flourishing, with farmers expecting over five tonnes per hectare.
“We want to thank our government first for introducing ARDA contract farming. This has enabled us to break through in our wheat production, we have the best crop ever,” a farm manager, Lovemore Watch said.
“We planted on time after receiving inputs from ARDA. We want to thank the government for such a good programme. We are expecting between six and seven tonnes per hectare,” another farm manager, Cydwell Hungwe noted.
A crop assessment by ARDA indicates a positive trajectory for the country.
“For wheat, we have surpassed our 60 000 hectares target and are expecting more than 300 000 tonnes, which will go towards strategic reserves. On maize, we have mobilised adequate inputs for our contract farmers, 60 000 hectares of maize will be put under irrigation, and 40 000 under sorghum. All in all, ARDA eyes to produce over 850 000 tonnes inclusive of all grain crops,” ARDA’s Board Chairperson Ivan Craig
With such a good crop outlook, farmers are expected to ensure that all their combine harvesters are in good condition so that they clear this crop before the onset of the rains.
