Melinda Kusemachibi
Masvingo province is targeting to plant 2 500 hectares (ha) of winter wheat involving both commercial and small scale farmers with the planting having already started.
Masvingo provincial Crop and Livestock Officer Aaron Muchazivepi said the winter wheat production is already underway and the department aims to beat the May 15 planting deadline.
“Currently for Masvingo province we have registered more than 2 500 ha of land for winter wheat. Farmers are already accessing inputs especially from the Presidential Input Scheme where we have above 1600 registered hectares in the province. Bikita has registered 156 ha, Chiredzi 143 ha, Chivi 25 ha, Gutu 554 ha, Masvingo 733 ha, Mwenezi 17 ha and Zaka 117 ha. This is for farmers who are into irrigation and also those who have vleis or water for production for winter wheat.
“We also have farmers in the Lowveld who have availed land in their plot to the tune of 178 ha and also have Tongaat Hulett coming in partnering with Masvingo Development Trust (MDT) for around 600 ha with 200 in Chiredzi and the other 400 at Mwenezana Estate. We do also have farmers contracted through Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) Agro-yield to the tune of 88 hectares bringing the total to 2565 ha registered for this winter season. Currently farmers have started planting and we hope to meet our May 15 deadline,” said Muchazivepi.
He also called upon farmers with water sources to come on board and register for the cropping season.
“We also encourage farmers with water sources or bodies to come and register. Already Agricultural Finance Cooperation (AFC) is helping farmers with inputs from seed to fertilizers or agro-chemicals. So the winter planting season is ending by May 15 and we encourage farmers to do their planting during this period so that we increase our yields. We hope that as a province we will meet our target of 2 500 ha that is encompassing both commercial and small holder farmers that have been supported through presidential input scheme winter wheat facility that aims to give them seed and they would plant between 100 to 140 kg/ha that is if the farmers are in vleis.
“We are also accessing Compound D and Ammonium Nitrate fertilizers. As a ministry, we are also giving out chemicals that are to be used to control diseases and pests as well as weeds accessible through our Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots and thus encourage farmers to register with our Agriculture, Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) in their districts,” added Muchazivepi.
Winter wheat cropping comes at a time prices of bread have soared, with some sources attributing that to the effects of the conflict between renowned wheat producer Ukraine and Russia that began on February 24, 2022.
