Zim in record wheat output

Zim Now Writer

The country is set to achieve its projected output of 380 000 tonnes of wheat following the delivery of a total of 367 687 tonnes of the cereal to the Grain marketing Board by farmers as of Friday.

The delivered cereal represents 90 percent of the projected output, which is the highest ever output of wheat since commercial production began in the 1960s.

Prior to this, the record output stood at 325 000 tonnes that were produced in 1990.

As of now farmers are holding on to the crop owing to moisture content but more deliveries are expected.

This year, a record 80 885 hectares were put under the crop to ensure wheat self-sufficiency, in a move that was meant to boost the country’s food security as well as eliminate the obtaining dependence on imports.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos expressed optimism that the country will achieve its set target of 380 000 tonnes.

“After some assessments, we project that we should get at least 380 000 tonnes of the cereal, which is 20 000 tonnes more than the national requirement. The preparations had been so good and it seems we have managed to achieve our goal. What is left are the final actual statistics, but it all points to a remarkable season,” the deputy Minister said.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr John Basera, said the country’s targets were not affected despite the earlier losses of the cereal crop to veld fires and early rains.

“This had little impact on our average output. We are still there and the data from our technical teams show that we are achieving our targets,” he said.

Cabinet indicated last week that 3 980 hectares had been damaged by rains, with the largest hectarage of 3 225 being in Mashonaland West Province.