HARARE-THE Government has extended the national wheat planting window to the 15th of June, urging farmers to plant short-season varieties in order to maximise yields and meet the country’s production targets.
This follows a tour of wheat-producing areas in Goromonzi by a high-level delegation led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, to assess progress after the initial May 31 planting deadline.
So far, 85 000 hectares of the targeted 120 000 hectares have been planted. Professor Jiri commended farmers for their efforts and confirmed the extension, expressing optimism that the remaining 35 000 hectares could still be planted within the new timeframe.
“We are pleased with the progress made so far, with 85 000 hectares planted. To accommodate those still in the field, Government has extended the planting period to June 15. We strongly urge farmers to adopt short-season wheat varieties to ensure maturity within the optimal harvesting window,” Professor Jiri said.
Host farmer Honourable Noah Mangondo, who has increased his planted area this season, lauded Government for supporting wheat production through timely payments and inputs.
“Thanks to Government support, we managed to double our hectarage to 106 hectares this season. We received our wheat payments on time, which boosted our operations. With this extension, I aim to expand to 120 hectares,” he said.
The Second Republic has prioritised wheat as a strategic food security crop, with an ambitious target of producing 600 000 metric tonnes this season.
To achieve this, Government continues to roll out support through the Presidential Input Scheme and ARDA-led initiatives.
