Record wheat yields expected in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s wheat harvest is surging, with a national target of 600,000 tonnes likely to be exceeded. Agriculture Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka praised Masvingo Province’s 4,800 hectares under wheat against a 5,000-hectare target. Riverton Farm yields six tonnes per hectare. Surplus wheat may be exported to Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
EXCITEMENT continues to surge across Zimbabwe as wheat harvesting gathers momentum, with the nation targeting 600,000 tonnes this season.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka, accompanied by Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira, recently inspected Masvingo province, where combine harvesters have already been deployed.
Dr Masuka said the initial target area for Masvingo Province was 4,000 hectares, which was increased to 5,000 after identifying additional irrigation schemes. The province achieved 4,800 hectares, which the Minister said is good.
Dr Masuka highlighted that Masvingo holds 52 percent of the country’s dammed water, totaling over 8,000 billion cubic meters, capable of supporting many hectares under irrigation.
“To assess the state of wheat as we prepare to harvest, you are aware that the President, Dr E D Mnangagwa, had set a target of 120,000 hectares for this winter wheat season, but we have exceeded the target; we are at 122,566 hectares,” said Dr Masuka.
“The volume target is 600,000 tons, and clearly, we are visiting to see whether we will be able to achieve that. With what we are seeing, we are surely on our way to exceeding the 600,000 tons.
“Here in Masvingo, the initial target area was 4,000 hectares, we then identified additional irrigation schemes and the target was increased to 5,000 hectares, and they achieved 4,800, which is very good.”
According to the ministry, Riverton Farm in Masvingo, boasting 250 hectares of winter wheat, has harvested 20 hectares at an impressive six tonnes per hectare. At Mbungo Estates, 174 hectares are set to match that yield, a dramatic improvement from last year’s four.
Applauding Masvingo’s 4,800 hectares planted against a 5,000 hectares target, Dr Masuka projected a national haul of over 600,000 metric tonnes against the national demand of 360,000 tons.
He said the nation has initiated negotiations with Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania to purchase some of the country’s wheat, with the remainder allocated to the strategic grain reserves.
“Some countries are in turmoil, trying to go to other countries looking for food and calling for Non-Governmental Organisations to help,” said Dr Masuka.
He applauded the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, and the Department of Migratory Pasts for their support rendered to the wheat farmers.
The Minister’s tour affirms that the wheat harvest is not just beginning; it is blazing forward, heralding a season of record yields and strategic agricultural transformation.
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Source : Chronicle
