Story by Providence Maraneli
COMMERCIAL and communal wheat farmers in Matabeleland South Province are optimistic of a productive winter cropping season, with most having already completed planting.
Following adequate rainfall during the 2024/25 summer cropping season, winter wheat production is off to a strong start in the province, with farmers targeting to surpass the 3 500-hectare mark.
At ARDA Antelope in Matobo District, out-grower scheme farmers are braving the chilly mornings to plant 100 hectares of wheat, reflecting the province’s unwavering commitment to national food security.
What is fuelling this momentum is the availability of water from Antelope Dam and robust support from the government through inputs and agricultural extension services.
“We are excited this season because the dam has water that we can use for wheat and the summer crop. We have started planting and we are targeting more than 100 hectares,” an ARDA Antelope out-growers scheme farmer said.
“We are done with the land preparation, now we are planting and we should be done before the window closes,” another farmer said.
Across the irrigation canals, a staggering 400-hectare winter wheat crop at ARDA Antelope already on the tussling stage makes the provincial target achievable.
“We have planted 400 hectares with plans to go beyond 500 by next wheat season. We are excited, the water is there, the weather conditions are favourable, and we are looking forward to more than seven tonnes per hectare. The majority of our crop was planted early which will give us time to do better and we anticipate a good year,” ARDA Antelope Manager, Mr Aleck Chinyayi said.
Schemes like Valley and Midlo are adding more than 100 hectares of the winter wheat to the 600 produced under ARDA Antelope, positioning Matobo District as one of the biggest contributors to the provincial target.
The government has mobilised requisite resources for winter wheat production at a time when the country is still basking in the 2024/25 summer cropping season good harvest.
“This year it is all systems go in the wheat production, the commercial, the A2 and communal schemes are doing wonders. By June 31 we should be done with planting and we have sent our foot soldiers to ensure that everything goes according to plan. We are happy that the province is done with land preparation,” Matabeleland South Acting Provincial Agritex officer, Mr Belize Ncube said.
For a province that has seen a massive revitalisation of defunct irrigation schemes like Silalatshani, Makwe, Mankonkoni, Sebasa, Masholomoshe and Tshikwalakwala, the commitment of resources to winter wheat production will propel the country towards an upper middle-income society by 2030.
