Zimbabwe targets 29,000 tonnes of wheat

Government is targeting a 17,6 percent increase
in wheat production from 2013 output in 2014. In
his 2014 National Budget statement proposals in
Parliament in December, Finance Minister Patrick
Chinamasa also said wheat production costs
were prohibitive in the country.
Minister Chinamasa said Government would
work towards increasing wheat production from
24 700 tonnes in 2013 to 29 000 tonnes in 2014.
Zimbabwe is a traditional net importer of wheat,
but yields have been declining over the past
decade.
"It costs approximately US$1 200 to grow a
hectare of wheat in Zimbabwe against US$230 in
Ukraine, US$580 in Russia and US$600 in
Australia among others," he said.
Wheat production is estimated to have declined
from 33 700 tonnes in 2012, to about 24 700
tonnes in 2013.
"This is on account of declines in the area planted
from 11 600ha in 2012 to around 8 500ha this
year . . .
"Challenges that have continued to affect the
production of the crop include erratic power
supply for irrigation, funding and high production
costs, among others, making the production of
the crop unviable," he said.
He said production in major growers like Canada
was competitive as wheat was largely produced
using natural rainfall as opposed to an irrigated
crop in Zimbabwe.
Financial institutions are not keen to fund wheat
citing the high risks involved, while the private
sector has complained of the absence of a
regulatory framework to guide grains contract
farming.
Improved production for 2014 is mainly
premised on increased private sector funding and
contract farming arrangements.
This requires reliable electricity supply for
irrigation.
Some agricultural experts say the country should
simply stop focusing on production and rely
solely on wheat imports, while others say the
crop is strategic and relying on imports alone
could be dangerous.
Financial institutions are not keen to fund wheat
citing the high risks involved, while the private
sector has complained of the absence of a
regulatory framework to guide grains contract
farming.
The introduction of a regulatory framework in
this regard, as well as for oil crops, will likely
increase funding for such produce.