News / National
Zim set for the lowest wheat hectarage
10 Mar 2012 at 11:47hrs | Views
With the planting of the winter wheat crop expected to start in the first week of April, indications are that, Zimbabwe will this year have the lowest hectarage ever recorded in the country as farmers are not yet ready.
Preparations are said to be in disarray as farmers are still choked by debts accrued from last season while the Grain Marketing Board on the other hand is failing to pay them.
Zimbabwe Farmer's Union Executive Director, Mr Paul Zacharia said unless something is done in the next two weeks, this year's wheat production will be the worst ever.
Zimbabwe has become almost a net importer of wheat despite the local farmers being able to supply the bulk of the crop.
Last year, only 6 000 hectares were put under the crop out of a projected hectarage of 45 000.
Unless stakeholders come up with drastic measures to address the challenges, it appears less than 6 000 hectares will be put under winter wheat this year.
Preparations are said to be in disarray as farmers are still choked by debts accrued from last season while the Grain Marketing Board on the other hand is failing to pay them.
Zimbabwe has become almost a net importer of wheat despite the local farmers being able to supply the bulk of the crop.
Last year, only 6 000 hectares were put under the crop out of a projected hectarage of 45 000.
Unless stakeholders come up with drastic measures to address the challenges, it appears less than 6 000 hectares will be put under winter wheat this year.
Source - Zbc
