Zimbabwe is targeting to put 85 000 of land under winter wheat this year with an expected output of 360 000 tons of the crop over the next two years.

Last year 44 399 hectares were planted with the country recording an output of about 250 000 tons of wheat.

This output exceeded the post-land reform highest ever delivery of 164 thousand tons.

Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said availability of adequate water is expected to anchor the success of the winter cropping season.

Dr Masuka was speaking on Thursday at the 2021 winter cropping indaba in Harare.

He said, “Water is expected to anchor the success of the season as Zimbabwe moves towards food self-sufficiency, import substitution and increasing exports as party of the journey towards Vision 2030.

ZINWA Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Taurayi Maurikira says farmers should register on time to have access to adequate water.

“What we can do at best is to preserve the available. We therefore call on farmers to register on time and tell us their water requirements for farming, “he said.

Zimbabwe needs at least 400 thousand tonnes of wheat annually to meet demand. Low wheat output has over the years forced the country to rely on imports.

Wheat production has been on an upward trend over the past few years.

In 2019 the country recorded an output of 95 000 tons, down from 170 000 recorded the precious year.

In 2017 a total 158 000 tons were harvested, up from 62 000 tons recorded in 2016 and 2015 respectively.