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Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter

The country is expecting a bumper harvest in terms of cereals from increased hectarage planted during the good rains of the 2022-23 summer cropping season, refilling the grain reserves while for the third straight year, there will be no imports of maize and traditional grains.

At the same time Zimbabwe has reached self-sufficiency in wheat following last year’s record harvest, and this year farmers have already made plans to grow more, starting the creation of reserves of wheat as well as meeting local demand.

Speaking on behalf of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa during the 4th Zimbabwe Agriculture media awards held in Harare recently, the Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza urged the media fraternity to continue sharpening their pens and influence positive improvements in the coverage of agriculture-related programmes.

He said the country was celebrating the record-breaking wheat tonnage harvested in the 2021-2022 agricultural season, the biggest harvest since wheat farming started in 1966.

The estimated maize production is 2,3 million tonnes, a 58 percent increase on the 1,5 million tonnes produced in the 2021-2022 season. 

Traditional grains production is estimated at 280 966 tonnes, 45 percent more than 194 100 tonnes produced last season. 

Pearl millet production is expected to be at 71 221 tonnes, which is 61 percent more than 44 143tonnes produced. Finger millet production is expected to be 18 610 tonnes, which is a 250 percent increase from 5 321 tonnes produced in the 2021/2022 season.

About 3,2 million tonnes of food crops are expected this summer season compared to 2 million tonnes produced last season. However, despite the reduced summer grain harvest last year, caused largely by a long dry spell in the middle of the rainy season, there were still adequate reserves from the previous harvest carried over to ensure that all Zimbabwean requirements were met from local stocks, and the excellent harvest this year will ensure that those reserves will be refilled to cope with any future poor season.

Cde Paradza urged the media fraternity to continue sharpening their pens and influence positive improvements in the coverage of agriculture-related programmes.

“The media is very key in disseminating information on good agronomic practices and weather patterns among other issues. These good agriculture yields are attributed to the Second Republic’s initiatives such as the highly successful Pfumvudza/Intwasa , the Presidential inputs programme, timely inputs distribution, constant supply of key utilities such as power and fuel to farmers and crowding-in the private and financial services sectors as enunciated in the Agriculture Recovery Plan,”he said.

He said the ministry has also witnessed the wide and commendable coverage of various national agricultural initiatives such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa, the Presidential Cotton Input Scheme, the Presidential Goats Scheme and the Presidential Poultry Scheme under the Government’s Agriculture and Recovery Growth Plan.

The ministry has so far licensed 14 Community Radio Stations which are proving to be a force to reckon with in the dissemination of developmental news in the agriculture sector thereby mainstreaming gender poverty as enshrined by the Sustainable Development Goal Number 5.

Of the 14-language based community radio stations that was licensed, 11 are already on air.

This is testimony to President Mnangagwa’s vision to leave no one and no place behind as communities can now receive and share weather patterns and proper agronomic practices in their local languages.

Cde Paradza called upon all media houses to provide journalists with suitable ICT equipment for work in both newsrooms and in the field, so as to promote information convergence and proper audience interactivity.

He urged the media to report without fear or favor and discharge their duty objectively and impactfully, highlighting in equal measure, areas where farmers have excelled and where they need to improve.

Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos said agriculture sector relies heavily on media for extension and advisory services adding that there is a need to help improve awareness, communication between the ministry and the actors that are involved in agriculture.

“Since the turn of the century, Zimbabwe has often been subjected to negative press by international media hence it is important that media practitioners covering the agriculture sector tell our stories in a patriotic and accurate manner, “he said.

Farmers were optimistic that this season high yields will be assured.

Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust president Mrs Depinah Nkomo said this year farmers are likely to produce a good harvest in maize and other crops compared to last year, adding that the rainfall received was normal in most areas.

 “I believe that this season we are going to produce the best results on our crops, especially maize,” she said.

“Most farmers planted the majority of crops in early November and most of these crops matured well. Currently, we are currently harvesting these crops. We are likely to produce more this season compared to last year where most of it was affected by dry spell. We are looking forward to having better producer prices.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) president, Dr Shadreck Makombe, said there were chances of getting a bumper harvest because of good rains received so far, and the preparedness of farmers. 

“The season is good following good rains that were received. We are sure of a bumper harvest this season,” he said.

Tobacco Farmers Union Trust vice president Mr Edward Dune said the future of maize production was great following the participation of private buyers.

“The future is bright if farmers continue to be paid in foreign currency,” he said.

 “We are optimistic that next year we can achieve the target if private players also come to partner the Government in farming.

“This is critical for our country because food security is an important part of our lives. We must stock up our reserves.”

The country has potential to be a net exporter of food and retain its status as SADC’s bread basket following the success of various policies that the Government has implemented to revive the agricultural sector.