Zimbabwe Winter Wheat Planting Reaches 78,458 Hectares

Nokusa Masuku

Zimbabwe’s winter wheat planting programme has reached 78,458 hectares, representing 63 percent of the national target of 125,000 hectares, as farmers race to complete planting before the May 31 deadline.

The current planting progress is ahead of the same period last year, raising optimism for a strong wheat harvest and improved national food security.

Irrigation is expected to play a key role in the season, with 80 percent of the wheat crop projected to be grown under irrigation. Of the total target, 19,000 hectares are expected to come from irrigation schemes, while major dams are anticipated to support about 66 percent of irrigated wheat production.

The country has more than 460 irrigation schemes, of which 331 are currently functional. However, less than 2,000 hectares have so far been planted under these schemes, indicating the need for increased activity in the remaining planting period.

Mashonaland West is leading the planting campaign, having achieved 62 percent of its target, followed by Mashonaland Central at nearly 60 percent and Mashonaland East at around 50 percent.

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