News / Local
Zimbabwe aims for rice self-sufficiency with three new varieties
10 Jun 2025 at 17:15hrs | Views
The Agricultural Research and Innovation Services Department under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has introduced three new rice varieties aimed at helping farmers with limited irrigation facilities increase production. The varieties - Nerica 1, Nerica 3, and Nerica 7 - are high yielding while requiring low agricultural inputs, making them well-suited for smallholder farmers.
Speaking at the recently held second edition of the Agricultural Research and Extension Symposium in Harare, rice breeder Mrs Nomsa Chizhande said the new varieties were developed to help reduce Zimbabwe's heavy reliance on rice imports. "We are promoting rice production to close the gap between production and consumption," she said, adding that the varieties mature at different times to give farmers flexibility depending on their needs.
According to Mrs Chizhande, Nerica 7 is a long-season variety that takes 135 days to mature and can yield up to seven tonnes per hectare. Nerica 3 is a medium-maturing variety that matures in 120 days and yields up to five tonnes per hectare. Nerica 1 is a short-season variety, maturing in 100 days with yields ranging from three to four tonnes per hectare. One of the key advantages of these varieties is their ability to thrive in upland conditions, making them particularly suitable for farmers who have limited access to irrigation.
Mrs Chizhande also emphasized the low input requirements of the new rice strains, explaining that only 200 kilograms per hectare of basal fertilizer and 150 kilograms of ammonium nitrate per hectare are necessary to achieve optimal yields. She highlighted the potential economic benefits, noting that increased rice production could help Zimbabwe save foreign currency currently spent on imports, as well as create jobs and improve farmers' livelihoods.
Zimbabwe currently imports over 80 percent of the rice consumed in the country, spending roughly US$100 million annually. Changing dietary preferences, especially among younger generations who are increasingly favoring rice over traditional staples like isitshwala, are driving up demand for the grain.
The introduction of Nerica 1, Nerica 3, and Nerica 7 marks an important step in strengthening Zimbabwe's food security and agricultural productivity, offering hope to farmers and policymakers seeking to reduce dependence on imports while meeting growing domestic demand.
Speaking at the recently held second edition of the Agricultural Research and Extension Symposium in Harare, rice breeder Mrs Nomsa Chizhande said the new varieties were developed to help reduce Zimbabwe's heavy reliance on rice imports. "We are promoting rice production to close the gap between production and consumption," she said, adding that the varieties mature at different times to give farmers flexibility depending on their needs.
According to Mrs Chizhande, Nerica 7 is a long-season variety that takes 135 days to mature and can yield up to seven tonnes per hectare. Nerica 3 is a medium-maturing variety that matures in 120 days and yields up to five tonnes per hectare. Nerica 1 is a short-season variety, maturing in 100 days with yields ranging from three to four tonnes per hectare. One of the key advantages of these varieties is their ability to thrive in upland conditions, making them particularly suitable for farmers who have limited access to irrigation.
Mrs Chizhande also emphasized the low input requirements of the new rice strains, explaining that only 200 kilograms per hectare of basal fertilizer and 150 kilograms of ammonium nitrate per hectare are necessary to achieve optimal yields. She highlighted the potential economic benefits, noting that increased rice production could help Zimbabwe save foreign currency currently spent on imports, as well as create jobs and improve farmers' livelihoods.
Zimbabwe currently imports over 80 percent of the rice consumed in the country, spending roughly US$100 million annually. Changing dietary preferences, especially among younger generations who are increasingly favoring rice over traditional staples like isitshwala, are driving up demand for the grain.
The introduction of Nerica 1, Nerica 3, and Nerica 7 marks an important step in strengthening Zimbabwe's food security and agricultural productivity, offering hope to farmers and policymakers seeking to reduce dependence on imports while meeting growing domestic demand.
Source - The Herald
