Beverly Bizeki
Masvingo province has revised its winter wheat target from the set 2000ha to 2100 ha following the review of the national target by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development from 85 000ha to 90 000 ha.
Masvingo Province Agritex Acting Director Nobert Masiiwa confirmed the development and said the ministry was reviewing the target upwards.
“As Masvingo province, we have planted 1238 ha as at June 2, 2023 which is 59 percent of the target, we are expecting the plantation to keep increasing as the plantation date has also been moved to June 15 2023,” said Masiiwa.
“In terms of area planted by district, Bikita has a target of 150ha and 142 ha has already been planted, Chiredzi has a target of 220ha and they have planted 153ha, Chivi has a target of 100 ha and they have done 56ha.
“Gutu’s target is 367 ha and they have done 243 ha, Masvingo’s target is 1 100ha and 533 ha have been planted, Mwenezi has a target of 13 ha and they are yet to plant and Zaka has a target of 150h and they have done 108ha,” said Masiiwa.
Farmers have however experienced some challenges in terms of tillage services.
“Most of our farmers need tractors for ploughing, disking and rolling but unfortunately our province does not have enough tractor power but we have had a lot of support from AFC bank leasing services private tillage operators but we still have a lot of farmers who are lagging behind in terms of tillage,” said Masiiwa.
Masiiwa urged farmers with bigger farms to start registering with the ministry for leasing services.
“Our farmers are urged to go to their respective extension officers and indicate the area put under winter wheat which they need services for in terms of combining to enable us to link them with service providers.
Masiiwa also stated that they have had challenges with the quilia bird but there is now a department in the ministry responsible for migratory pests and bio security and farmers are implored to alert extension officers when they come across the pests for control.
Zimbabwe last year recorded its highest wheat production since production of the cereal in the country after harvesting 375 000 tonnes of wheat from the 80 833 hectares planted.
