Story by Gay Matambo
STRATEGIC partnerships in the Lowveld are significantly boosting wheat production and reinforcing Zimbabwe’s food security agenda, with both state-linked entities and private players expanding investment into the sector.
The collaboration between the Masvingo Development Trust and Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe has already transformed over 200 hectares of land into productive wheat fields, with harvesting scheduled to begin next month.
Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe’s Corporate and Industry Affairs Executive, Dr Dahlia Garwe, said the initiative is a direct response to the government’s call for broad-based participation in food security programmes.
“This season, we have partnered with Masvingo Development Trust to grow winter wheat, and this is in a bid to contribute to national food security following the call by the authorities for individuals and companies to assist Zimbabwe to remain food secure.
“However, this is not the first time we have contributed in this manner. In the last few seasons, we have grown either maize or wheat, and both commodities have been sent to the GMB. This season, we are actually looking forward to a good harvest and hope to surpass what we achieved last year, which was some 2.8 tonnes per hectare,” Dr Garwe said.
“We grow wheat and maize with the intention of ensuring that our region is food secure. 100 hectares were put under wheat in the Hippo Valley area and 108 hectares in Triangle. We are expecting to start harvesting next month,” Masvingo Development Trust Chairperson, Mr Ailless Baloyi noted.
4800 hectares are under wheat in Masvingo province this year, against an initial target of 4000 hectares.
