Published by the government of Zimbabwe
25 October 2007
Harare — Agriculture Minister Mr Rugare Gumbo said yesterday the Grain Marketing Board has so far taken delivery of 13 829 tonnes of wheat from this year's winter crop while more deliveries are expected in the next two weeks.
Briefing journalists on the 2007/08 agricultural season, Mr Gumbo said 49 770 hectares of land had been put under wheat this year and close to 10 983ha had since been harvested.
He said the harvested crop represented about 26 515 tonnes of wheat got so far against a target of close to 145 000 tonnes.
"Considering a combination of factors that affected our wheat crop season," he said, "I am happy with the progress made so far in wheat production."
"About 13 829 tonnes of wheat has already been delivered to GMB. More deliveries will be coming in the next two weeks."
The minister said Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces had delivered most tonnes at 8 490 tonnes and 2 862 tonnes respectively.
"The other provinces have produced about 80 tonnes each," he said.
He said each province had been targeted to produce at least 2 400 tonnes of wheat per hactare.
The country had earlier in the year set a winter wheat target of 76 000ha but owning to serious shortages of inputs and other resources, only 51 000ha were put under production.
Close to 987 ha were written off, leaving the country with a target of about 49 770ha.
Zimbabwe requires about 450 000 tonnes of wheat every year with 25 percent of it imported. Currently, Zimbabwe is facing bread shortages.
Mr Gumbo said transport problems and unviable wheat prices had affected production and delivery levels.
He said there was need to review wheat price and improve transportation, especially from farms to GMB.
"Most farmers don't have silos and have difficulties in delivering their crop to the GMB," he said.
Central bank governor Dr Gideon Gono and Minister for Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Irrigation, Dr Joseph Made, also attended the conference and said all was being worked out to ensure the country had a successful farming season.
Agriculture is Zimbabwe's backbone and one of the leading foreign currency earners.
New Ziana.
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