Zimbabwe Targets Wheat Exports As Output Rises

Dr. John Basera

Precious Manomano Herald Reporter

Zimbabwe is considering exporting surplus wheat to Mozambique from this year’s anticipated harvest of 420 000 tonnes, well above the country’s requirements of 360 000 tonnes a year. Last year, a record harvest of over 375 000 tonnes was achieved after planting wheat on 80 000 hectares, and that created homegrown carryover stocks. But after scaling up the hectarage to 86 000 this year due to various progressive interventions by the Government led by President Mnangagwa, there are hopes of an even higher output in the region of 420 000 tonnes this year. Speaking during a wheat field day at Mema Estates in Banket, Mashonaland West recently, Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr John Basera said farmers should take advantage of massive markets that are in Mozambique to increase output. Conflicts in Eastern Europe have taught Africa to look more inward, since Russia and Ukraine control 30 percent of global wheat supply, but the product cannot move seamlessly from those countries due the disturbances. “This time we want to export wheat for the first time. Just because we did it last year, we have to do it again this year,” said Dr Basera. “Recently, a delegation from Mozambique visited Mashonaland West so that they can appreciate how we grow wheat. There is a big market in Mozambique so we need to aim for that. We need to produce our own food as Africa.” Dr Basera said for the country to stand a good chance to attain Vision 2030, that of an upper middle income society, there was a need to crowd in participation of the private sector. This year, the private sector funded 23 000 hectares out of the targeted 25 000 hectares, which is encouraging. ReadMore