Winter Wheat Farmers Exceed Planting Target, Shift Focus to Boosting Productivity

By Ilyana Sithole

Zimbabwean winter wheat producers have made a remarkable achievement by breaking the country’s planting record for the crop season. With 120,007 hectares of winter wheat planted, well above the programmed 120,000 hectares, much of the attention now goes towards optimizing the harvests through adopting top agronomic practices. Not only is this milestone a reflection of diligence from local farmers, but it also helps to convey a message towards increased food security and economic rewards for the country.

The impressive farming figures were confirmed by Mr. Leonard Munamati, Acting Chief Director of the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. “Now that we have reached the end of the long planning season, farmers had planted 120,007 during the weekend and we are now checking the figures that will be produced with the actual area planted,” said Mr. Munamati. “So I would like to encourage all the different programs, the different funders, our agritex officers, farmer units, all of whom we are now working to come up with the actual area that has been planted and we are now encouraging our farmers to make use of the best agronomic practices.”

This historic achievement in agriculture is a reflection of the joint efforts of farmers, government efforts, and all other participants within the farming industry. Having set the foundation, the target now is to be able to achieve maximum development and growth of the wheat plant in an effort to tackle much greater national production.

Mr. Munamati went on to describe the next steps of paramount importance: “We now encouraging our farmers to follow the best agronomic practices so that they control the weeds, they use the fertilizers in proper manner, split application according to their soil test requirement and also encouraging our farmers to make sure they irrigate properly, right water management in irrigation perspective, look for the pests, look for the diseases and control in time.” He emphasized the end objective: “Though we have achieved the target, we now want to focus on production and productivity because we want to achieve at least 600,000 metric tonnes, so that will need all the best agronomic practices.”

Farmers across the board are putting in their best efforts to follow these guidelines, cognizant of the fact that painstaking monitoring during the growing season will yield them results. Proper irrigation, keeping in view the climate of Zimbabwe, cannot be overemphasized since replenishment of water frequently becomes the only option for healthy crop growth. In the same way, prior management of pests and diseases is paramount to avoid loss of yield.

Benefits of a Bountiful Harvest

Achieving the ambitious target of 600,000 metric tonnes of wheat is worth it for Zimbabwe on various accounts:
* Food Security: By achieving national requirements through production, Zimbabwe will establish a firm strategic reserve, providing a critical cushion against likely future shock and a constant food supply for its citizens.
* Reducing Imports: Being wheat self-sufficient will drastically reduce Zimbabwe’s reliance on imported grain. Not only will this save valuable foreign exchange, but also the general food security and robustness of the nation.
* Economic Benefits: The looming increase in wheat production is also set to further change the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe. Through the potential for exportation of wheat, the nation will be able to generate significant revenue and devise new economic prospects, generating growth and wealth.

As the winter wheat crop progresses through its growth stages, the collective efforts of the farmers augmented with the support of expert advice and wise use of resources will be vital in converting the success of planting into a sufficiently fruitful harvest. The quest towards a successful agriculture venture, supported by self-sufficiency in major staples, carries on with redoubled energy and passion.