Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
Government is fast-tracking wheat harvesting in various parts of the country after allocating combine harvesters to assist farmers before the strategic crop is affected by the rains.
The early rains experienced across the country last week affected a number of wheat farmers prompting government to come up with measures to ring-fence the strategic crop.
Combine harvesters have already been dispatched to Manicaland Province to assist with the harvesting process for the 12 000 hectares put under wheat this year.
This was revealed by Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza.
“Manicaland had targeted 10 000 hectares of wheat, but we did almost 12 000 hectares. We are making frantic efforts to ensure there are enough combine harvesters to harvest the crop before the onset of the rain season. Some combine harvesters are already on the ground as we seek to ensure all the crop is harvested on time. This is rural development through farming. In the past, wheat production was done by large farmers only but the joining of small scale farmers has improved on productivity,” Advocate Mugadza said.
With forty percent of wheat in Manicaland now being produced by small holder farmers, a Mutasa-based farmer Mrs Naume Mawocha is grateful for the timely intervention.
“The government provided inputs and i am proud of this good wheat crop. I urge farmers to fully utilise inputs we are given by government. As women, we should also take advantage of the Agric4She programme. Following the successful agriculture seasons, my hope in future is to sink a borehole and irrigate my crops all year round.
Government has identified wheat as a strategic crop to support national food security after bumper yields over the past two seasons.
