Zimbabwe records grain surplus

Raymond Jaravaza, ray.jaravaza@chronicle.co.zw

ZIMBABWE has produced enough food to meet domestic requirements of 2.2 million tonnes of grain this season with a projected surplus of 812 000 tonnes, Cabinet heard yesterday.

The country capitalised on the good rains, which saw the Government, private sector and the farmers scale up collaboration to achieve a massive boost in food production.

Following the successful summer cropping season, the sector is now focused on delivering yet another massive winter wheat bumper harvest, having surpassed the initial target of 120 000 hectares set aside by Government to settle at 122 142 hectares of the crop to date.

The winter crop planting season was set from May 1 to 31 and farmers across various regions of the country managed to beat the deadline, according to a report by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, earlier this month.

Government has said it continues to monitor key enablers to guarantee the achievement of an anticipated production of 600 000 metric tonnes of wheat this year.

Yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, told journalists in a post Cabinet briefing that Zimbabwe was poised to record a grain surplus of 812 000 metric tonnes based on latest assessments.

“The projection is based on an anticipated cereal reserve of three million metric tonnes, comprising an expected harvest of 2,9 million metric tonnes and an existing reserve of 83 526 metric tonnes,” said Dr Muswere.

“This is against an annual grain requirement of 2.2 million metric tonnes. Notably, the surplus will be even greater if projections are based on the SADC regional average cereal consumption rate of 8.5 kilogrammes per person per month or on the national actual average consumption rate of 7.7 kilogrammes per person per month.”

To ensure optimal support to the agricultural sector, he said the Government will continue to avail resources to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), to facilitate timely payments for grain deliveries by farmers.

“Marketing will also continue to be conducted through multiple channels including the GMB, the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX) and direct sales to various agro-processors,” said Dr Muswere.

“In addition, the Warehouse Receipt System is active, with a 2025 intake of 4 000 metric tonnes of cereals and oilseeds realised to date.”

In Matabeleland North where farmers managed to meet the target of 2 500 hectares for wheat, renowned farmer Mr Brent le Reux continues to lead from the front with an impressive crop at his Jotsholo estate. Mr Le Reux said his 200 hectares of winter wheat were planted in early May.

The leading farmer’s successful agro-farming enterprise has become a shining example of the potential for agricultural development in Matabeleland North, inspiring many to embrace farming as a viable livelihood.

“We have 200 hectares under winter wheat production, which is almost the same as what we planted last year,” he said.

“Water challenges continue to be a hindrance in our farming projects, especially winter wheat, which requires constant supply of water to feed various centre pivots at the estate,” said Mr Le Reux.

The farmer joined forces with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) in 2015, forming a public-private partnership that has yielded remarkable results.

The partnership’s success has led the Government to extend the lease for another decade, recognising the positive impact it has had on the local community in the last nine years.

The estate, under Mr Le Reux’s management, produces a variety of crops on a commercial scale, including wheat, potatoes, potato seed, and maize. Additionally, Mr Le Reux is committed to giving back to the community through his corporate social responsibility initiatives, which include distributing chomolia to vulnerable populations.

He employs a highly mechanised, technologically advanced farming system at the farm for improved productivity.

“The crop was planted in early May and we expect it to do well. As an estate we are grateful for Government support for all these years and we thrive to produce a quality crop that will contribute to food security in the country,” said Mr Le Reux.

At Redwood Irrigation Scheme, which was revived by ARDA three years ago with the installation of a centre pivot and revival of boreholes for a constant water supply, 24 villagers are also doing their part in contributing to the nation’s strategic wheat reserves.

The farmers include nine men and 15 women who came together to revive an irrigation scheme that has been involved in winter wheat production for the last two seasons.

This year farmers at Redwood Irrigation Scheme, situated in Umguza, planted 10 hectares of winter wheat.

“Last year we planted 17 hectares of winter wheat but we decided to plant 10 hectares this year because of water challenges. We made a decision to reduce the hectorage for winter wheat to save water for other cash crops such as potatoes, sugar beans and butternuts that we also grow during the course of the year,” said the Redwood chairman Mr Abraham Luckson Moyo.

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