Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
COMMUNAL farmers in Mashonaland Central Province are embracing wheat production after benefiting from the Presidential Inputs Programme, contributing to the province surpassing its winter wheat planting target.
The winter wheat season is progressing well across the province, with communal farmers in Bindura District playing an increasing role in production.
Among them is Presidential Inputs Programme beneficiary Mrs Getrude Mutariswa of Gorwa Village, who planted 1.5 hectares of wheat.
“We heeded the call to take up wheat farming, and we are grateful to our President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, for supplying us with inputs under the Presidential Inputs Programme. We did not know wheat farming could be done in a communal area, but we tried it,” she said.
Bindura Acting District Agriculture Extension Officer, Mr Tineyi Hukuimwe said crop establishment had been encouraging but urged farmers to continue following recommended agronomic practices.
“We are happy with the crop establishment. The wheat should be irrigated, but farmers must also allow time for hardening and the development of tillers,” he said.
Mashonaland Central Provincial Director in the Ministry of Agriculture Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Mr Misheck Chitokomere said the province exceeded its 25 000-hectare planting target, achieving 103 percent.
“Farmers concluded wheat planting on June 15, which was the official closing date, against our target of 25 000 hectares. We are now consolidating our data to finalise the figures,” he said.
Agricultural authorities are urging wheat farmers to maintain good agronomic practices and adequate irrigation to maximise yields in support of the Government’s wheat-based food security drive.
