The Sunday News
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has reassured winter wheat farmers of uninterrupted power supplies as well as allowing them to be on stop order facilities which will not require them to pay upfront during the production cycle as the country seeks to increase domestic output and enhance import substitution.
Zimbabwe and Ethiopia are the only two African countries to achieve wheat self-sufficiency following a successful winter wheat production last season which saw 375 131 tonnes being produced.
That was against a national requirement of 360 000 tonnes.
With Government having increased the 2023 winter wheat production target to 85 000 hectares from 80 388 planted in 2022 to further solidify gains from the previous year, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Soda Zhemu said the power utility, Zesa would be increasing power generation to enhance production during the winter farming season.
Addressing journalists in Bulawayo on the sidelines of the just ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), Minister Zhemu said:
“ZETDC has confirmed that about 120 megawatts have been dedicated for winter wheat production. This should allay fears of any farmer who wants to establish for the current season. I know there is a lot that they are doing to ensure that the 120 megawatts is available to the farmers especially putting the farmers into the clusters and allowing them to be on stop order facilities so that they are not required to be paying upfront.
wheat
“As of last week, there has been some technical committee communications with the Zambezi River Authority where there has been a review of generation from Kariba which has increased to an average of 500 megawatts. However, they intend to increase in line with the demands for winter wheat production activities,” said Minister Zhemu.
Constant power cuts have been one of the key threats for the winter wheat production as farmers were unable to pump water for irrigation. However, cognisant of the set targets, farmers need a constant and uninterrupted power supplies to pump water for irrigation.
Meanwhile, Chief Director Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri said the power input was key as it was an equally important input as it guarantees productivity.
“Certainly the ring fencing of power is crucial. The power input is key as much as is seed and fertiliser. Power guarantees productivity. Definitely this is important as any serious farmer considers power availability in wheat planting and production decisions,” said Prof Jiri.
With the target for the 2023 winter wheat production being 85 000 hectares, Government has said 65 percent will be supported through Government-guaranteed schemes, and 35 percent by the private sector.
The Government-guaranteed schemes for wheat production are the CBZ Agro-Yield Programme; the AFC Land Bank; and the Presidential Input Scheme, while the Food Crop Contractors Association (FCCA) will constitute the private sector funding which will be complemented by some self-financing farmers.
Thus, the increased power supply is set to enhance the projected production from the area that will be planted under wheat which is 408 000 tonnes, based on the actual yield volume of 4,8 percent hectares which was achieved in 2022.–@nyeve14
