Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
FARMERS have launched the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) 200 Plus Club, an initiative aimed at increasing strategic grain production and supporting Zimbabwe’s national food security agenda.
The initiative comes as Government reports more than 4 000 farming joint ventures established in recent years to boost agricultural production and strengthen food security.
Under the SGR 200 Plus Club, each member is expected to dedicate at least 200 hectares to the production of strategic grain crops every farming season, contributing to the country’s Strategic Grain Reserve.
Concession farmer Phibion Mutibura of Barwick Farm, who is part of the initiative, produced 250 hectares of wheat after partnering with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA).
“I joined doing 150 hectares, now at 650 hectares and intend to increase the hectares to over a thousand within a season or two. SGR 200 is the home of all farmers that want to treat farming as a business, with a mentorship program that will not make you fail. Peer-to-peer support will support you from when you start up to marketing. We currently have over 20 000 hectares under SGR, 200 ha plus for wheat, and we are projected to grow wheat to 40 thousand hectares plus for wheat,” he said.
Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Professor Obert Jiri said organised farmer groups are a key pillar of production.
“Organised farmers’ groups are critical for enhancing production; there are farmers with land, and there are investors with money to invest, and they do not have land. We have seen over 4 000 joint ventures within the last few years and production has gone up. These farmers are working with the banks and Arda to provide a whole lot of agronomic expertise,” he said.
ARDA Chief Executive Officer Mr Tino Mhiko highlighted that the farmers they collaborated with this season have produced an impressive crop.
“Here we capacitated the farmer with working capital for inputs, technical expertise, soil testing; we also provided logistical support and coordination synergy with the Grain Marketing Board. This is an excellent crop, best management and best agronomic practices by ARDA,” he said.
Farmers countrywide this season surpassed the 125 000-hectare target set by government, supported by adequate water and power availability, setting the tone for a bumper wheat harvest this season.
