Masvingo has registered decreased volumes of winter wheat as some irrigation schemes have dried up.
Some farmers are reported to have shunned the crop due to shortages of water and erratic power supply.
Acting Masvingo provincial Agritex officer, Mr Aaron Muchazivepi last week revealed that water challenges made them shun the decision to plant wheat on 500 hectares.
Minister of State for Masvingo province, Ezra Chadzamira who was the guest speaker, encouraged farmers to venture into small grains which are drought resistant.
Minister of State in Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s office who is also Masvingo North Member of Parliament, Davis Marapira said that the country needs to invest in irrigation schemes for food security. Marapira said:
Irrigation farming is the country’s breakthrough. Without irrigation, production in the country is heading nowhere.
We need to increase irrigation infrastructure in order to revive our schemes across the country.
The development comes when the country is already experiencing a huge food deficit.
Zimbabwe experienced scute bread shortages this year as wheat reserves went dry.
More: The Chronicle