Story by Tichaona Kurewa
ZIMBABWE’S drive to strengthen grain self-sufficiency and build strategic grain reserves remains on course, with Matabeleland North Province making significant strides in winter wheat production.
The country has set a target of producing more than 600 000 tonnes of winter wheat during the 2026 cropping season, a goal that Matabeleland North is supporting through flagship irrigation projects such as the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme.
The scheme is expected to play a key role in helping the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) achieve its provincial wheat target of approximately 2 000 hectares this season.
Chairperson of the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme, Mr Sinikiwe Moyo, said favourable water levels at Bubi-Lupane Dam have created ideal conditions for wheat production.
“We have planted a total of 60 hectares of wheat at the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme. This year is better for us because we have adequate water in the dam. We expect to harvest at least five tonnes per hectare. The scheme has transformed our lives and those of our children. We have built houses, acquired livestock and improved our livelihoods,” he said.
The success of the irrigation scheme is changing perceptions about the agricultural potential of Matabeleland North Province, with ARDA implementing measures to strengthen irrigation operations and improve productivity.
ARDA Regional Manager for Matabeleland, Mr Ndodana Ncube, said investments in critical infrastructure are expected to increase yields.
“Through improvements in water supply and power infrastructure, we are aiming to increase productivity and achieve an average yield of about five tonnes per hectare this season,” he said.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Richard Moyo, said the province is steadily emerging as a viable agricultural hub.
“In the past, Matabeleland North was regarded as unsuitable for wheat production because of its Kalahari soils. However, that perception is changing. The province is gradually transforming into a green belt, and the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme is improving livelihoods through the production of crops such as wheat and maize. Beneficiaries are delivering grain to the Grain Marketing Board, sending their children to school and investing in housing and other assets,” he said.
Commissioned in 2021, the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme has become a catalyst for agricultural transformation in an area once considered unsuitable for large-scale crop production.
With planting now complete and support systems strengthened, the scheme is expected to remain a major contributor to Matabeleland North’s wheat production drive and Zimbabwe’s broader food security agenda.
