Story by Abigirl Tembo
GOVERNMENT has set ambitious targets to increase wheat production, as part of its broader efforts to ensure national food security.
In a post-cabinet media briefing this Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the country aims to produce 600 000 metric tonnes of wheat.
“The Wheat Plan aims to produce 600 000 metric tonnes, surpassing the national annual requirement of 360 000 metric tonnes. Additionally, barley and potato production is expected to rise to 39 000 and 263 250 metric tonnes, respectively. To ensure the plan’s success, government will closely monitor 21 critical enablers, including power, water, seed, fertilizer, and fuel. Financial support enablers comprising farmer payments, finance, and insurance.
“Operational efficiency enablers comprising mechanisation, coordination and contract farming. Risk management enablers comprising migratory pests, land issues, security, and veld fire management, as well as other enablers such as capacity-building, the policy regulatory environment, soil management, marketing, and monitoring and evaluation.”
To support this initiative, 151 major dams across the country were monitored to verify existing irrigation capacities, according to Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka.
This move aims to ensure effective support for the 2025 winter plan.
The Food Deficit Mitigation Programme is ongoing, with the fourth Blitz Food Distribution exercise currently underway.
Other key developments from the cabinet meeting include the approval of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Amendment Bill, which aims to promote transparency and accountability in public procurement processes.
“The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Amendment Bill seeks to fortify the existing Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act [Chapter 22:23] by addressing gaps and challenges that hinder its alignment with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Among other key amendments, the Bill introduces the restriction of employees and their relatives from participating in the procurement of disposed assets, thereby preventing potential conflicts of interest and undue influence,” Dr Muswere stated.
The cabinet also received a report on the SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, where regional leaders discussed the latest security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Zimbabwe and the Republic of Nicaragua, which aims to bolster bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, was also discussed in today’s cabinet.
