Zim achieves another milestone in wheat supply
ZIMBABWE will for the first time since 2005 become wheat self-sufficient as the Government is implementing the Agriculture Recovery Plan to boost food security and nutrition in line with Vision 2030.
Government has been targeting increases in wheat production to meet the national requirement in line with the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy, the Agriculture Recovery Plan and the National Development Strategy 1 and in pursuit of the vision of becoming an empowered and prosperous upper middle income society by 2030.
After last year’s major jump in the size of the harvest, another year of gain should see Zimbabwe for the first time ever achieving self-sufficiency.
Last season farmers produced wheat enough to take the country for nine months and this season they are expected to harvest more than 300 000 tonnes.
Already there are 70 000 tonnes of the cereal in stock.
This will lead to wheat self-sufficiency since the country requires 360 000 tonnes of the cereal annually.
During the 2021 winter cropping season, 66 435.86 hectares were put under wheat, registering the third highest hectarage since Independence and is only surpassed by plantings in 2004 (70 585 ha) and 2005 (67 261 ha).
The bumper wheat harvest being expected is a result of the good rains received last season, uninterrupted power supplies and farmers’ zeal to feed the nation.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority indicated before the winter cropping season that it had enough water to irrigate wheat giving farmers hope and confidence to grow the crop.
Government encouraged farmers close to water bodies to grow wheat including those with gardens, vleis and irrigation schemes.
Besides adequate water, farmers did not complain much about the power outages as was the case during the past years.
Farmers in wheat growing areas were put in clusters for easy supply of power.
As with all crops under the Second Republic a number of public and private financing arrangements were put in place so farmers could access their needed inputs in good time.
Wheat was planted under the Presidential Inputs Scheme, National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme also known as Command Agriculture/CBZ Agro-Yield and private sector schemes.
Agritex extension teams were in full force going to wheat growing areas training farmers on planting, calibration of planting machines, fertiliser application and disease control among other important agronomic practices.
Challenges were however encountered during inputs distribution. There were some delays in input distribution and experts advised farmers to continue planting even after the deadline.
Quelea birds also disturbed the crop prompting the Government to intervene with chemicals to help farmers control the birds.
As farmers are about to start harvesting the wheat already stakeholders have indicated that all is in place for the process.
Farmers unions have confirmed that they are working closely with other stakeholders to ensure harvesting goes smoothly and farmers do not incur losses.
Harvesting of wheat used to give farmers a headache during the past seasons due to shortages of combine harvesters.
Some farmers would lose the crop after it would have been damaged by early rains. But according to authorities, all is set for the harvesting of the cereal.
The unions said the plan for harvesting was there for the first time in so many years.
Government will this season assist farmers with combine harvesters through the Agricultural Finance Company (AFC) Leasing Company and the private sector will assist farmers with combine harvesters.
Stakeholders are aware of the regions that produced wheat, the expected dates of harvesting and have come up with a schedule for the machinery.
The issue of combine harvesters, farmers’ unions have confirmed is well divided between the Government funded sector and private sector.
Government recently announced the new producer floor price of wheat, a move that will encourage farmers to deliver their crop to the Grain Marketing Board.
As long as the price is favourable, cases of side marketing will be limited.
Following extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including farmers’ unions, Cabinet approved an upward review of the wheat flour producer price to $55 517.69 per tonne for ordinary grade wheat at a 15 percent return on investment, and $66 621.22 per tonne for premium grade wheat during the 2021 marketing season.
The producer price was reviewed upwards to enable farmers to go back to the land.
The GMB has made adequate preparations for the 2021 wheat intake. Additionally, the Government will avail the requisite funds to pay for deliveries.
The largest single harvest in history was in 1990 when 325 000 tonnes were harvested.
According to Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement food self-sufficiency, import substitution, increased exports, increased value addition and beneficiation, increased employment and improved livelihoods can be better guaranteed by a vibrant water sector, anchored on robust, transparent, fair and accountable management of the sector.
He said irrigation will continue to have a prominent role in propelling agriculture in the context of Vision 2030. In this regard, efficient water use, through efficient irrigation systems, will be advocated.
Zimbabwe has been a net importer of wheat prompting the Government to come up with a programme to encourage wheat production on all farms with reliable water sources.