By Decide Nhendo
Masvingo province is expecting 17 500 tonnes of winter wheat after it increased the heactres to 3 500 this year from 2 800 hectares last year.
Speaking to TellZim News, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (ARDAS) Provincial Director Courage Mahoya said the province was anticipating an increase in yields this year and said the increase was essential to food security especially now when the country is grappling with an El Nino-induced drought.
“Last year we had 2 800ha under winter wheat but this year we increased the hectares to 3 500, and we are expecting to harvest 17 500 tonnes. This is going to ensure food security in the province as you are aware that the province and the country at large is grappling with El Nino-induced drought,” said Mahoya.
He added that all registered irrigation schemes and individual farmers with irrigation facilities in the province had already planted their wheat.
“We have 56 irrigation schemes and 275 gardens as well as 14 farmers, with each having at least 5ha and above. These registered wheat farmers have already planted their winter wheat and its doing well,” said Mahoya.
“Apart from winter wheat, the province has 399 hectares with maize crop. This will ease food shortage in the province,” he added.
During the 18th Post-cabinet briefing, the cabinet said it will be tracking on weekly basis the inputs and resources needed for wheat production in order to ensure maximum yields are realized. Inputs such as the seed, fertilizer, fuel, electricity, farmers’ outstanding payments, finance, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, migratory pests, mechanization, chemicals, insurance, land issues, infrastructure, security/theft, and policy and the regulatory environment will be tracked on a weekly basis in order to ensure that productivity is maximized.
