Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
THE government has stepped up efforts to provide wheat farmers with technical support, including combine harvesters, to ensure the crop is swiftly taken off the fields before the onset of the rains.
As the country targets a record wheat output of over 600 000 metric tonnes from more than 120 000 hectares planted during the winter cropping season, efforts are being made to ensure that not a single grain is lost due to adverse weather.
Mr Philemon Mutangiri of Masvingo district planted 250 hectares of wheat this season, becoming the biggest wheat producer in the province. Given that he planted the crop early, harvesting at the farm has started, and they are getting six tonnes per hectare.
“This is our first time growing wheat to this extent, as we have been focusing much on livestock and the education business. However, after visiting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s farm, I was inspired and I started clearing this land for crop farming. We managed to plant 250 hectares, but our target was 300 hectares. We are happy with the crop that we have here, and harvesting is currently underway. So far from the crop harvested, we are getting between five and six tonnes per hectare,” he said.
At Mbungo Estates, over 170 hectares are under a thriving wheat crop, which is almost ready for harvesting.
“This season we planted over 170 hectares of wheat, and we want to thank the government for supporting us. We have been working with ARDA, and our crop is about to be harvested. We are getting ready and are looking forward to harvesting around 6 tonnes per hectare,” Mbungo Estates manager, Mr Munyaradzi Mazivazvose noted.
The government has since assured wheat farmers of adequate support during the harvesting season.
“Wheat harvesting has started in many districts across the country. We have 303 combine harvesters, with 290 of them already configured and ready to assist our farmers. So we are going to follow our wheat cluster registers by our Agritex department, starting with those who planted their crop early. We are going to ensure that all our wheat crop is out of the fields before the onset of the rains,” Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka said.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo, Honourable Ezra Chadzamira, said the province is committed to increasing winter wheat production through the expansion of irrigation infrastructure.
“As a province, we are happy with what our farmers are doing and with the many water bodies that we have. We are looking forward to establishing irrigation facilities to increase our production, especially during the winter season. Here in Bikita, the plan is to establish a canal from Mutirikwi Dam, which will service farmers in Masvingo North down to Bikita District, hence we are looking forward to establishing a green belt here down Mutirikwi Dam.”
The country is targeting a harvest of over 600 000 metric tonnes of wheat from over 120 thousand hectares planted during the winter cropping season.
