Bulawayo, (New Ziana)- Planting of winter wheat around the country is picking up pace, with government stepping up support to farmers to enable them to meet a target of 125 000 hectares projected to produce 662 500 metric tonnes of the crop.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister, Anxious Masuka said planting had been buoyed by increased farmer participation, improved coordination in input distribution and strong institutional backing from key stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
“To date, 23 595 hectares have been planted nationally, with 14 151 hectares already germinated, which is a positive indicator that the programme is on course,” he said.
He said in Mashonaland Central province alone, 3 615 hectares have already been planted and these figures are expected to rise significantly by the end of the month as more farmers move into full-scale operations.
Masuka highlighted that wheat production was critical in sustaining national food security, reducing grain imports and consolidating gains achieved under the government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“Wheat production is strategic to the country because it supports national bread and flour requirements while contributing towards food self-sufficiency and rural industrialisation,” he said.
He attributed the encouraging progress to continued government interventions under the Presidential Input Programme, ARDA-supported schemes and private sector contract farming arrangements, which he said were improving access to seed, fertiliser, fuel and mechanisation services.
“The collaboration between government, financial institutions, contractors and farmers has strengthened confidence within the wheat value chain and created a conducive environment for increased productivity,” Masuka explained.
He also commended critical support institutions for ensuring favourable conditions for winter cropping.
“We have received assurances from Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) regarding stable electricity supply while Zimbabwe National Water Authority(ZINWA) has confirmed adequate irrigation water availability for the season.
“These are important fundamentals for successful winter wheat production,” he said.
The country has in recent years intensified winter wheat production as part of broader efforts to attain national food sovereignty following recurrent global supply disruptions and climate-induced shocks affecting grain markets.
Zimbabwe achieved wheat self-sufficiency last year after surpassing national annual wheat requirements, with authorities now focusing on improving yields, expanding irrigated hectarage and strengthening climate-resilient farming systems.
Experts say the continued growth of wheat production is expected to enhance value addition within the milling and baking industries, while creating employment opportunities across farming and agro-processing sectors.
New Ziana
