Harare(WNAM Monitoring): The government has set the winter wheat planting price at US$440 a ton as the country goes all out to produce over 620 00 metric tons of the crop as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of the El-Niño induced drought.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said cabinet had also set the planting price of maize and sorghum at US$360 per ton.
He said Cabinet had approved the planting prices as incentives to farmers to commit more land to wheat production considering the country has comparative advantage producing wheat rather than maize and sorghum in winter.
The cabinet decision followed the presentation of the proposed 2024 Winter Cereals Production Plan by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka.
“Accordingly, a total of 120 000 hectares have been targeted for wheat production during the 2024 winter cereal production season, compared to the 90 912ha planted in 2023. The total production is estimated at 624 000 metric tonnes, against a national requirement of 360 000 metric tonnes annually,” said Dr Muswere.
“The hectarage will be financed through Banks, the Presidential Input Scheme; ARDA (Estates + Joint Ventures), the Food Crop Contractors Association (FCCA); and self-financing.”
Dr Muswere said the country has enough wheat seed and chemicals in stock for the 2024 winter cereals production season and any deficit in fertiliser requirements has to be met through imports.
There is enough water in the country’s dams for the winter cereals production programme, he said adding that in terms of mechanisation, there is enough capacity to adequately and timeously till the 120 000ha.
“Government encourages all farmers with available irrigation and land to contribute to national efforts to produce a bumper wheat crop as part of the national strategy to ensure food security,” said Muswere.
Meanwhile, Dr Masuka said there is enough internally generated power for the winter crops irrigation which require between 100mw to 120mw daily that will be ring fenced.
He apologized for the late payment to farmers for grain delivered to the Grain Marketing Board, a situation he blamed on the late disbursement of funds from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
“As of yesterday, (March 25) all the maize and traditional grains delivered to the GMB had been fully paid for by the government in both the Zimbabwe dollar and the US$ components,” said Dr Masuka.
“The entire Zimdollar component for wheat has been paid, some component of the US$ for wheat has been paid. What is outstanding is US$24.9 million for wheat which should be paid by end of April.”
The Zimbabwe dollar payments to farmers were done using the going rate on the day of payment to try and preserve value in view of the fast depreciating local currency.
