News / National
Wheat hectarage drops
10 Jun 2013 at 21:58hrs | Views
The decline in wheat hectarage has this season resulted in low demand for electricity supply. Farmers have so far planted 2 000 hectares against a national target of 40 000 hectares. Last season farmers planted 26 000 hectares of winter wheat. Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers' Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said there was a low uptake for wheat this season.
"Most farmers failed to plant wheat because of viability. The current wheat price is not viable and therefore many farmers would not want to grow the crop," he said.
Mr Chabikwa said it costs US$2 950 to produce a hectare of wheat with an average of three to four tonnes per hectare.
"With the current wheat producer, price, it will be difficult for farmers to break even and obviously farmers no longer want to venture into unviable projects," he said.
He also said next season farmers unions are going to lobby Government to re-introduce the funding for wheat production. Mr Chabikwa complained that some traditional farmers were willing to grow the crop this season but faced funding challenges.
This season a total of US$84 million was required to fund wheat production.
The bulk of the money was expected to come from the private sector which includes millers and bakers.
Millers withdrew their funding at the last minute after Government failed to come up with a Statutory Instrument to guide the contract system. Wheat production has been on the decline for the past seasons with Zimbabwe becoming a net importer.
"Most farmers failed to plant wheat because of viability. The current wheat price is not viable and therefore many farmers would not want to grow the crop," he said.
Mr Chabikwa said it costs US$2 950 to produce a hectare of wheat with an average of three to four tonnes per hectare.
"With the current wheat producer, price, it will be difficult for farmers to break even and obviously farmers no longer want to venture into unviable projects," he said.
He also said next season farmers unions are going to lobby Government to re-introduce the funding for wheat production. Mr Chabikwa complained that some traditional farmers were willing to grow the crop this season but faced funding challenges.
This season a total of US$84 million was required to fund wheat production.
The bulk of the money was expected to come from the private sector which includes millers and bakers.
Millers withdrew their funding at the last minute after Government failed to come up with a Statutory Instrument to guide the contract system. Wheat production has been on the decline for the past seasons with Zimbabwe becoming a net importer.
Source - Zimpapers
