Chegutu: Wheat output in Zimbabwe is likely to increase helping the country to eliminate dependence on the importation of the crop.
Wheat output in the country is projected to be 380,000 tonnes as against the consumption of 360,000 tonnes. Wheat output during last year was sufficient to cater for the domestic need of the country for nine months.
Wheat is the second most important crop in the country after maize.
“We are working hard to ensure that we need not have to import wheat. Now we are expecting to export the commodity,” said a farmer growing wheat in his fields.
The Presidential Input Scheme has helped small-scale wheat farmers increase wheat output.
The disruption of the supply chain due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict created a shortage of commodity in African countries.
John Basera, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement said, the government had set a target of cultivating wheat on 75,000 hectares which was surpassed by 4,000 hectares.
