The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
WHEAT planting has started with Manicaland set to plant 9 500 hectares amid assurances that water and electricity will be readily available to ensure a successful season.
Manicaland was one of the best achievers last year and is expected to do even better this year.
Early planting at the beginning of May is advisable for wheat as yields decrease with late planting.
Makoni will have the largest area under wheat (4350ha,) followed by Mutasa (1950ha), Nyanga (1800ha), Mutare (1100ha) and Chipinge (478ha).
All irrigation schemes in the province will be put under wheat production.
Acting deputy director, Agriculture Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS), Mr Nomatter Manunure said both planting and distribution of inputs are in full throttle.
“The window period of wheat planting is mid-April to end of May for the best results, hence we are still within the period for farmers to prepare and plant,” sai Mr Manunure.
“Farmers are busy in their fields preparing and planting wheat. The area prepared so far is 4 285ha, while 55ha have been planted.
Mr Manunure added that delays in harvesting the summer crop has affected wheat planting.
He also said delivery and distribution of inputs have been scaled up in all of Manicaland’s seven districts, with farmers getting a full basket of inputs at once.
In the past, beneficiaries would either receive the inputs in drips and drabs or fail to get the whole package altogether.
This compromised chances of increased yields.
While inputs are being delivered to the 14 GMB depots dotted across Manicaland, allocation is based on a provincial database complied online to avoid inefficiencies, bias and corruption.
“Inputs distribution is still underway and is in its final stages. The bulk of the area is supported by Presidential Inputs and an increase in the area under wheat is expected as more inputs are being availed.
“We are also encouraging farmers with adequate water to venture into wheat farming,” said Mr Manunure.
Following a good rain season that filled major dams in Manicaland, there is enough irrigation water for the season.
Water levels in the Save Catchment which supplies farmers in the province with irrigation water has for the first time in decades gone beyond 95 percent of its capacity, thereby raising prospects of a highly productive winter wheat season.
The Save Catchment dams have a cumulative full supply capacity of 789 000 mega litres and operate as a system.
When the situation at Osborne Dam is untenable, water can be drawn from other dams like Marovanyati and Ruti (Buhera), Mpudzi, Odzani, Small Bridge, Rusape and Muchekeranwa, among others, to make up for any shortfalls.
However, Rusape, Odzani and Small Bridge, Muchekeranwa and Marovanyati Dams reached full supply capacity during the rainy season.
Osborne Dam — the largest aquatic reservoir in Manicaland — this season hit the highest mark of 97 percent in the last decade.
The availability of water is crucial in wheat production since the cereal is highly sensitive to moisture deficits, especially during the critical phases of heading, flowering and early grain-fill.
The total gross amount of water required for wheat production is about 500-600mm per hectare.
