Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
PREPARATIONS for the winter wheat season have begun in earnest, with stakeholders in Mashonaland Central Province convening in Bindura this Friday to coordinate their targets and preparations.
Mashonaland Central Province has set a target of putting 28 500 hectares under wheat during the forthcoming winter wheat season.
“Yes we talk of area but there is an issue of the yield. Key stakeholders are here to ensure we have the enablers to grow wheat. We want to maximise productivity on our small land. We want to produce five tonnes and above per hectare,” the Provincial Director in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa said.
Mashonaland Central Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Christopher Magomo praised wheat farmers for being patriotic by contributing to the national targets, hence a recommendation for them to be prioritised on the allocation of title deeds.
“Besides the government having challenges to pay farmers from time to time, you have continued to grow wheat, and I commend you for that. We should not import when you are there. We want you to get title deeds first because you have been patriotic. Some farmers said farming of maize and wheat is not profitable and abandoned it but you remain committed to boost food security,” Honourable Magomo said.
Bindura farmers who produced 29 % of wheat in the province last year aired their challenges, especially erratic power supply and water shortages.
“We want inputs on time. The main challenge last season was electricity, and most of our farms have no pivots. We used lateral irrigation, and it’s a challenge when there is no power,” a wheat farmer said.
“There are no combine harvesters. Sometimes we harvest late and incur losses due to lack of harvesters, so we need assistance in that regard,” another wheat farmer said.
“We do joint ventures with farmers and we had 500 hectares of maize and 500 hectares of wheat. Our biggest concern is the lack of water. There is not enough water in Mwenje Dam. We hope Bindura dam is quickly built,” a community member added.
Farmers urged the government to address the issue of mining along the Mazowe River bed as it is affecting water supply.
The government recommended that reports be made quickly so that identified culprits are brought to book.
