National Foods praises wheat production initiatives
NATIONAL Foods Limited (NFL) has commended Government initiatives in improving wheat production, which has seen millers reducing their import bill as they are now able to access wheat locally.
Over the years, the country could not meet national requirements and had to import wheat from other countries.
With the advent of the Second Republic, the Government implemented initiatives to boost production, which has seen the country reach a milestone in wheat production by harvesting 375 000 tonnes of the cereal in 2023, the highest ever recorded since wheat growing began in 1966.
Zimbabwe requires 360 000 tonnes of wheat annually.
In an interview during the recent tour of National Foods’ new flour milling plant in Bulawayo, NFL Southern Region production executive Mr Ngqabutho Moyo, said the company is also engaged in an outgrower scheme, which also assists in reducing the import bill.
“With this improved wheat production in the country, it’s now easy to get wheat from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB). The improvement in production makes things easier for millers as it makes logistics a lot more manageable,” said Mr Moyo.
“We source wheat from GMB, our contract farming and then import the deficit. This year, we expect 60 000 tonnes from contract farming.”
Government’s initiatives to boost wheat production include the National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (Neaps), the Presidential Wheat Support Scheme, engaging private contractors, ensuring adequate water for irrigation and a stable power supply.
According to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, an assessment of 151 major dams across the country shows that the available water is adequate to irrigate 120 000 hectares of wheat, enough to meet the season’s ambitious target of 600 000 tonnes.
If achieved, the surplus wheat production could mark a turning point in the nation’s agricultural sector as the country will become one of the big exporters of wheat in the region.-chronicle
