Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
MANICALAND – MANICALAND province is optimistic of surpassing its target of 13 000 hectares of winter wheat this season, with the province currently rounding- up the planting period.
The successful summer cropping season has injected more energy towards increased productivity by farmers in Manicaland province, which is targeting to surpass 13 000 hectares of wheat this season.
The manager at Barry Farm in Mutasa, Mr Petros Chatara revealed that they have increased the hectarage of wheat from 182 hectares last year to 193 hectares this year, and are expecting an average wheat yield of nine tonnes per hectare.
“We managed to meet our wheat planting targets with the first field being planted on April 30. Last year, we had 182 hectares but this year, we have increased by 11 hectares and planted 193 hectares. We are looking forward to having 9 tonnes per hectare. Growing wheat is helping us to produce feeds for our dairy section. We have also insured our crop to avoid losses,” he said.
Government is optimistic set targets will be met and has encouraged farmers to take full advantage of the planting window to complete the planting process.
“We are looking forward to surpassing the wheat target of 13 000 hectares with most of the wheat being grown in Makoni, Mutasa, and Mutare districts. We are happy with the crop and we hope to use the planting window to surpass our target. So far, we are above 35 percent of the targeted hectares. This year, we target to improve yields, and farmers had planted 4 400 hectares as of last week. We have seen the distribution of inputs to rural areas and ARDA JVs, and we hope that will contribute towards increased hectarage,” Manicaland Provincial Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services director Mr Nhamo Mudada said.
Following the start of the wheat planting season on the first of May, the country is targeting to produce 600 000 metric tonnes of the cereal crop this year.
