Wheat production has been on the increase in the past season and in 2021 the country will draw closer to its 400 000 tonne annual demand as CBZ willfund 60 000 through its CBZ Agro-Yield scheme while an additional 15 000 hectares will be funded through various private sector schemes.

At least 10 000 hectares will be put under wheat through the inaugural Presidential Winter Wheat Scheme, which will witness scores of small scale farmers with access to irrigation moving into winter wheat farming.

This year’s projected harvest is anticipated to be the largest since commercial wheat farming started in the 1960s.

Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) acting director Mr Stancilae Tapererwa told The Sunday Mail that distribution of inputs had commenced, with some farmers having already received part of their fuel allocations.

“Preparations are going on well. CBZ is buying inputs for winter wheat for 60 000 hectares. We are targeting 85 000 hectares; 60 000ha funded by CBZ, 15 000ha funded by millers and 10 000ha funded by the Presidential Programme. So in total we have 85 000 hectares.

“Zesa has committed to give farmers constant power supply.

“Expected local production is more than 360 000 metric tonnes out of a national requirement of 400 000 metric tonnes.

“Fuel is being given to farmers by CBZ to hasten harvesting of the summer crop and land preparations for winter wheat.”

Government has pegged the winter wheat pre-planting producer price for premium grade at $52 534,61 per tonne, while the standard grade price has been set at $43 778,84 per tonne.

The pre-planting producer price for the cereal has not changed from last year’s owing to the stability of the local currency.

“The premium grade price is 20 percent above standard grade to reward quality,” said Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka recently.