The government says the country will attain wheat self-sufficiency this year for the first time in almost two decades.
Zimbabwe consumes about 360 000 tonnes of wheat annually but the country has been importing the grain due to depressed local production.
The country expects to harvest 380 000 tonnes of wheat this year against an annual consumption of about 360 000 tonnes, generating a 20 000 tonnes surplus.
Addressing the media in Harare on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the country is expecting “a bumper harvest” from the 2022 winter wheat crop. She said:
For the first time in our country since 2004, we have never had such a bumper harvest of wheat. We are looking at high yields.
We are not yet looking at exporting but we are happy that what we are producing this year will cover more than a year of consumption. That is good.
We will also have some in reserve but the issue of export is not yet discussed. We don’t need to import wheat.
Wheat is grown entirely under irrigation during the winter season in Zimbabwe.
In 2022 more than 80 000 hectares of agricultural land was put under wheat production nationwide, with many new farmers venturing into the sector. | SABC News