Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND has set a target to produce 58 500 tonnes of wheat in the upcoming winter season, a significant increase from the 52 000 tonnes produced last season, as the province gears to play its part in the country’s Wheat-Based Food Security Strategy.
To achieve this goal, farmers in the province seek to increase production per unit area, targeting 4,5 tonnes per hectare, a modest increase from the previous season’s four tonnes per hectare.
Speaking during a meeting on winter wheat preparedness in Mutare on Wednesday, Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services Manicaland Provincial Director, Mr Nhamo Mudada, said plans are already underway to achieve the set targets.
“We achieved a yield of four tonnes per hectare last season, and harvested approximately 52 000 tonnes of wheat, surpassing our target. We aim to increase production per unit area to 4,5 tonnes per hectare. If successful, we expect to harvest 58 500 tonnes of wheat in the province,” said Mr Mudada.
The presentation on preparedness for the 2025 winter production season covered strategic winter crop production, financial systems, Government support programmes, input supply situations, irrigation systems preparedness, and irrigation water adequacy.
“In the 2024 season, we planted 13 216 hectares of wheat, exceeding our target of 13 000 hectares by 1,6 percent. The area planted as a percentage of targeted hectarage was 101,7 percent, with an average yield of four tonnes per hectare, resulting in 52 000 tonnes of wheat.
“For the 2025 season, Manicaland targets to plant 13 000 hectares of wheat, targeting a yield of 4,5 tonnes per hectare to produce 58 500 tonnes.
“We are confident of securing sufficient land to meet our production targets.
“It is imperative to note that the objective is to increase productivity from four tonnes per hectare in 2024 to 4,5 tonnes per hectare in 2025 to produce at least 58 500 metric tonnes,” said Mr Mudada.
Each district in Manicaland has been allocated a targeted hectarage for wheat production. Makoni, with the largest allocation, is expected to plant 4 800 hectares of wheat, while Nyanga will plant 2 400 hectares.
Chipinge and Chimanimani districts will have 1 300 and 1 080 hectares put under wheat, respectively, while Mutasa will have 2 100 hectares reserved for winter wheat production.
Buhera will have 120 hectares reserved for the same, and Mutare will have 1 200 hectares, giving a total of 13 000 hectares for the entire province.
According to Mr Mudada, some of the challenges faced include power interruptions, inconsistent irrigation cycles, and inadequate supply of inputs, particularly for joint ventures.
“The main challenge we faced last season was power-related, leading to inconsistent irrigation cycles. This was mainly experienced in the Middle Sabi area, where power and water supply were not aligned,” said Mr Mudada, adding that inadequate input supply was also a challenge, especially for joint ventures.
Efforts in Manicaland to attain this record wheat harvest dovetails into Government’s initiative to begin to build a wheat strategic reserve of 250 000 metric tonnes as approved by the Cabinet as well as to export some surplus.
The initiative is ultimately aimed at exporting surplus.
The massive wheat production initiative is also part of the country’s efforts to consolidate the gains from previous wheat bumper harvests and realise a Wheat-Based Food Security Strategy.
The projected bumper winter wheat harvest is in tandem with Manicaland Province’s projected bumper harvest that exceeds its cereals target of 341 980 metric tonnes as above normal rainfall pattern persist across the province.
The incessant rains have seen Agritex urging farmers to consider more than one split application of top dressing to avoid losses of nutrients due to leaching.
The expectation of a record harvest for both winter wheat and cereals signals a positive turn of events following the devastating El Nino-induced drought that the country experienced in the previous farming season.
