Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
ZIMBABWE is on track to record yet another bumper wheat harvest, solidifying its position as one of only two African countries that are self-sufficient in the strategic crop.
In 2019, the country’s wheat output was around 95 000 metric tonnes, but that figure has significantly increased in recent years, thanks to substantial government investments and supportive policy interventions aimed at boosting production.
The country produced over 560 000 metric tonnes last year and is on course to meet this year’s target of 600 000 metric tonnes.
“Cabinet was formally briefed that Zimbabwe is poised to register another record wheat production during the 2025 season. From a modest volume of 94 685 metric tonnes in 2019 to 562 091 metric tonnes in 2024, Zimbabwe is only one of two jurisdictions on the African continent that have become wheat self-sufficient. This is a testament to the President, His Excellency, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visionary leadership. During the current season, cumulatively 588 470 metric tonnes have been harvested from 113 077 hectares. This volume already surpasses our last year’s record production of 562 091 metric tonnes.
“An additional 9489 hectares of the 122 566 hectares planted should be harvested as per plan, and by the first week of November 2025. This production is a 511% increase from 2019. This wheat production already exceeds our national annual requirement, estimated conservatively at 360 000 metric tonnes. Zimbabwe is therefore currently seeking export markets for its wheat, in the region and beyond,” Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere said.
Meanwhile, farmers in Mashonaland Central Province have harvested 95 % of the wheat they planted this season, with the province expecting to produce 150 thousand tonnes of wheat so far.
ZBC News caught up with Glendale wheat farmer, Mr Kumbirai Chinyemba, in the midst of harvesting his wheat crop and highlighted that he has been able to achieve an average yield of 5.5 tonnes per hectare.
“We are in the midst of harvesting, so far we have done 35 hectares of our 80 hectares of wheat. We recorded an average yield of 5.5 tonnes per hectare. We have also begun preparations for summer cropping. In fact, we have planted 5 hectares of maize, which is under irrigation,” he said.
Mashonaland Central Acting Provincial Director in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Mr Misheck Chitokomere said farmers produced beyond expectations after surpassing the provincial wheat target by 910 hectares.
“Currently harvesting is in progress, and so far, 95 % of our wheat has been harvested, and this translates to 26 517 hectares harvested. We expect that by the first week of November, all our wheat will have been harvested because we expect rain around November 10. We are also urging farmers who are harvesting not to burn that stover,” he said.
With focus slowly shifting to the summer cropping season, wheat farmers have been encouraged to make bales from their wheat stover in order to boost the food reserves for livestock.
