Zimbabwe achieves record wheat crop

The government is targeting a wheat crop of 550 000t in the 2024/25 season. According to the Zimbabwean Agricultural Marketing Authority, the country’s Agricultural and Rural Development Authority estates, irrigation schemes and joint venture initiatives accounted for 51% of the crop so far. AFC Holdings had planted 16 362ha to wheat, with the Presidential Input Programme achieving 10 541ha, as reported by Zimbabwe Mail, AFC Holdings was established in April 2021 following the Zimbabwean government’s decision to transform Agribank into a one-stop shop for agriculture financing. Other financial institutions, millers, self-financed farmers and contractors accounted for 32 286ha of wheat plantings. In a post-Cabinet media briefing earlier this week, Dr Jenfan Muswere, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, said 75t of wheat have been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board to date. According to him, Zimbabwe requires 360 000t of wheat annually. “While we ...