Wheat tonnage expected to reach 200 000 tonnes

Wheat tonnage expected to reach 200 000 tonnes
Published: 12 December 2017
WHEAT farmers have so far delivered around 40 000 metric tonnes of wheat, with the Treasury targeting to pay all deliveries by year end. This year's wheat is expected to reach 200 000 tonnes from 65 000 tonnes last year, thanks to the Command Wheat programme, which gave farmers a starting point.

The rise in tonnage comes after Government provided adequate and consistent supply of water and electricity.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister Davison Marapira said that given the way deliveries are moving, 200 000 tonnes may be achieved.

"I don't have the actual figures of the deliveries as yet but given the transportation of wheat from December 1, 2017, deliveries should be way above 40 000 metric tonnes. We are very happy that most of our farmers attained five tonnes per hectare from the previously projected four tonnes," said Deputy Minister Marapira.

The Command Agriculture programme, which started last season with maize production has now been expanded to include winter wheat, with the import substitution expected to save over a $100 million.

Farmers were provided with all the inputs, as was the case with maize. Through the stop order system, farmers are expected to deliver an agreed tonnage to the Grain Marketing Board as repayment for the loan advanced to them in the form of inputs such as wheat seed, fertilisers, chemicals and tillage services.

Various farmers with irrigation infrastructure have in the past failed to grow wheat because of lack of financial resources to buy the inputs, a gap that Government has bridged through the Command Winter Wheat programme. The private sector has invested over $100 million for this year's wheat crop.

Sakunda, National Foods, Northern Farming Company, Stay Well Company and CBZ Bank have committed to supporting cultivation of winter wheat.

CBZ has budgeted $10 million for on-lending to wheat farmers at interest rates of between 10 and 12 percent. On average, the country spends $100 million annually on flour imports. Government is buying wheat at $500 per tonne, while private buyers offer between $360 and $380 per tonne. In this scenario most farmers will deliver to GMB which offers a favourable price.
- chronicle
Tags: Wheat,

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