The Zimbabwean government is considering the possibility of exporting surplus wheat to Mozambique from this year’s expected harvest, which is 420,000 tonnes, well above the country’s needs, as it only needs 360,000 tonnes per year, Zimbabwean news website, The Chronicle Zimbabwe reported Tuesday, 4 July.
According to the outlet, last year a record harvest of over 375,000 tonnes was achieved after wheat was planted on 80,000 hectares, which allowed for surpluses in the country. However, after increasing the cultivated area to 86,000 hectares this year, thanks to several progressive government interventions, an even higher production of around 420,000 tonnes is expected.
Cited by The Chronicle Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwean Secretary for Land, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, John Basera, argued that farmers should take greater advantage of existing markets in Mozambique, increasing production.
The leader was speaking recently in the wheat field called “Mema Estate”, in Mashonaland West province, where he said that the conflicts in Eastern Europe had taught Africa to look more at domestic solutions, as Russia and Ukraine control 30 percent of the global supply of wheat, but the circulation of the product is limited due to the conflict.
“Recently, a delegation from Mozambique visited Mashonaland West so they could appreciate how we grow wheat. There is a big market in this sister country, so we have to take advantage of it. We have to produce our own food in Africa,” the Zimbabwean leader pointed out, stressing that “for the country to have a good chance of achieving the 2030 sustainable development goals, specifically on an upper middle income society, it is necessary to attract private sector participation.”
The ruler noted that this year, the private sector has funded 23,000 hectares of wheat out of the planned 25,000 hectares, which is encouraging. “This has led to Mashonaland West being commended for its good performance in wheat cultivation as the province planted it on 27,000 of the 86,000 hectares of national acreage for this year,” he pointed out.
Ultimately, Basera hopes that Mashonaland West will indeed become the breadbasket of the country and Zimbabwe will emerge as the barn of the region.
