ZIMBABWE – The government of Zimbabwe has released the Winter Cereal Production Plan as part of El Niño-induced drought mitigation efforts.
According to the plan, contractors are expected to plant 123 500 hectares for an estimated yield of 624 000 metric tonnes of wheat, while the targeted area for planting barley is 7 000 hectares.
Maize/sorghum is expected to cover 3,250 hectares, and potato planting is expected in warmer areas in August.
Dr Anxious Masuka, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister told Cabinet that Zimbabwe’s Winter Cereals Production Plan for 2024 has four components of food security that cover the first stock, expected harvest, imports and the winter cereal production programme.
Zimbabwe is grappling with climate-induced shocks including floods and drought, exacerbated by economic instability.
The country is therefore devising measures to cushion its citizens from staving through a raft of measures.
Recently, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the drought ravaging the country a state of disaster in a bid to marshal resources and avert possible starvation. He also appealed for US$2 billion from well-wishers to cater for food aid.
However, Minister Masuka highlighted that the current plan to boost local production relies on nine enablers, which include power, water, seed, fertilizer, finance, monitoring and evaluation.
As part of the strategies to ensure a successful winter wheat season, the government has announced a 31 percent reduction in water charges for irrigation farmers, which will be backdated to the time when the crop was planted.
Speaking in a brief post-Cabinet, Dr Jenfan Muswere, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister revealed that the cereal production plan update consolidates the wheat-based food security thrust, with four components of food security running up to March 2025.
This covers the first stock, which refers to the grain that households, farmers, the private sector and Government hold as stock; the expected meagre harvest from the drought-ravaged 2023-2024 summer season, imports and the winter cereal production programme.
“The wheat planting has commenced in some areas, with various contractors envisaging of 123 500 hectares out of the targeted 120 000 hectares,”
“The targeted area for planting wheat is 120 000 hectares, with an estimated yield of 5,2 metric tonnes per hectare and estimated production of 624 000 metric tonnes,” said Dr Muswere.
He added that the targeted area for planting barley is 7,000 hectares, with an estimated yield of six metric tonnes per hectare and an estimated production of 42,000 metric tonnes, whereas for maize/sorghum, the government targets 3 250 hectares, with an estimated yield of 3.0 metric tonnes per hectare and estimated production of 9 750 metric tonnes.
Dr Muswere said the wheat farmer clusters have been submitted to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority for ring-fencing of electricity and water, respectively.
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