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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter

Wheat farmers need to finish harvesting and bring in all wheat from the fields as the rains could adversely affect the quality of the crop.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) secretary-general Mr Paul Zakariya said the late-planted wheat was under threat from the current rains and farmers had been urged to speed up harvesting to avoid losses.

The early crop was already harvested.

“We are concerned about the quality of wheat which is already affected in the fields,” Mr Zakariya said. “Planning is very important. In all things to do with agriculture, farmers are advised to be on time and work with local experts who will give advice on the spot.”

Zimbabwe National Farmers’ Union vice president Mr Edward Dune said so far farmers had harvested the larger portion of wheat, with only a small portion having been affected by the rains.

“Only a small portion is affected by rains,” he said. “There is not much loss since the bulk of the crop was harvested. It is crucial for farmers to speed up the process of harvesting, but the quality of the crop was already affected.”

Recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos urged farmers to speed up harvesting, adding that rains could compromise the quality of the crop.

In a bid to ensure smooth flow of harvesting, Government has mobilised adequate fuel and 248 combine harvesters to bring the record wheat harvest before the main rains.

Last week, Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services chief director Professor Obert Jiri disclosed that a total of 201 925 tonnes had been harvested as of November 10 from 49 159 hectares of land.

Prof Jiri said combine harvesting operations were at full throttle to finish harvesting while the impact of the current rainfall activities was being assessed.

Mashonaland West has the largest wheat harvest of 60 883 tonnes, followed by Mashonaland East with 39 276 tonnes and Mashonaland Central with 37 270 tonnes.

Mashonaland East has so far recorded the highest average yield of 5,2 tonnes per hectare, followed by Manicaland with 4,7 tonnes/ha and Mashonaland West with 4,6 tonnes/ha.

In Zimbabwe, wheat is the second most important cereal crop after maize.

Zimbabwe is expecting a bumper harvest of 380 000 tonnes this year, the first time since commercial wheat production started in 1966 that the country has reached self-sufficiency. Last season, farmers produced wheat that covered nine months’ supply of local demand.