Farmers Urged To Maximise Final 30 Days Of Wheat Planting
On a crisp May morning at Taguta Farm in Makoni District, the centre pivots were already humming before sunrise. Tractor lights cut across the mist as workers hurried to get seed into the soil. Time, everyone agreed, is no longer on the side of Zimbabwe’s winter wheat farmers.
With just 30 days left before the national wheat planting window closes at the end of May, Government has called on farmers to accelerate planting to protect yields and keep the country’s wheat self-sufficiency ambitions on track.
Zimbabwe is targeting 125 000 hectares of wheat this winter, with projected output expected to surpass 600 000 metric tonnes, according to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development [SOURCE REQUIRED]. The crop is central to National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) goals on food security and import substitution, and to broader AU Agenda 2063 and SDG 2 commitments.
Why Wheat Planting Timing Matters
Speaking at the Manicaland Winter Wheat Seminar held at Taguta Farm on Friday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Professor Obert Jiri, warned that delays now could undo months of preparation.
“We are urging all farmers to expedite planting so that we meet the cut-off date. We do not anticipate going beyond the deadline because yields become compromised thereafter,” said Professor Jiri.
Winter wheat in Zimbabwe is highly sensitive to planting dates. Plant too late, and the crop may face heat stress and higher disease pressure towards grain filling, cutting yields and quality. Plant on time, and farmers stand a better chance of achieving the national average yields needed to sustain local flour supplies and reduce imports.
FFA Explainer:
Winter Wheat Planting Window
The winter wheat planting window is the period, usually in April and May, when conditions are optimal to establish the crop under irrigation. Planting within this window helps ensure that flowering and grain filling occur during cooler, less stressful weather, which supports higher yields and better grain quality.
Manicaland Province, which hosted the seminar, is targeting 15 000 hectares under wheat this season, with the same end-of-May national cut-off date applying across the country.
What Support Has Government Put In Place?
Professor Jiri told farmers that Government had moved to secure key inputs and services ahead of the season.
“As Government, we have secured critical enablers for winter production, including electricity, fuel and financing, to support farmers throughout the season and maximise yields,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary said these measures were designed to remove the most common bottlenecks in winter production: unreliable power for irrigation, fuel shortages for pumping and field operations, and the high upfront cost of inputs such as fertiliser and chemicals.
The push on winter wheat fits into broader efforts to modernise and climate-proof agriculture through expanded irrigation and mechanisation. Earlier this year, Government announced plans to increase irrigation coverage and upgrade equipment to stabilise national wheat output across all key provinces, including Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, and Matabeleland North. [SOURCE REQUIRED]
These initiatives align with Zimbabwe’s commitments under NDS1, which identifies import substitution and local value chain development in crops such as wheat as strategic priorities, and echo the aspirations of Agenda 2063 for a food-secure and industrialised Africa.
How Are Farmers Responding On The Ground?
Farmers at Taguta Farm said they were encouraged by the focus on securing power for irrigation schemes, a persistent concern during winter seasons.
“Knowing that Government has ring-fenced electricity for farming clusters gives us confidence to invest our time and labour. That support must be sustained until harvesting,” said one farmer at the seminar.
Ring-fencing electricity essentially means prioritising power supply for irrigation schemes and farming clusters so that pumps and centre pivots can operate with minimal disruption during critical stages of crop growth.
Another farmer highlighted the importance of input assistance under the Presidential wheat scheme.
“The Government’s input packages under the Presidential programme mean we can fully utilise our irrigation capacity instead of leaving fields idle,” the farmer said.
FFA Explainer:
Presidential Input Programme For Wheat
The Presidential programme provides selected farmers, often through irrigation schemes and organised groups, with inputs such as seed, fertiliser and chemicals on credit or grant terms. In return, farmers commit to producing and delivering part of their harvest into formal markets, supporting national food security and stabilising supplies.
In Makoni, scheme leaders said the combination of guaranteed power and input support had prompted more smallholders to join irrigation clusters this winter, turning previously idle winter land into productive wheat fields. [SOURCE REQUIRED]
What Is The Situation In Other Districts?
Beyond Manicaland, wheat preparations have been underway across major irrigation zones including Mazowe, Chinhoyi, Insiza, and the Lowveld. Many schemes are relying on a mix of Government support, private contractors, and outgrower partnerships with millers to finance their crop.
In Mazowe District, for example, a group of young farmers at the Nzvere irrigation scheme told FFA they were racing against the calendar after delays in land preparation caused by late summer rains. [Illustrative — verify or replace]
“We have our seed and fertiliser now, and ZETDC has assured us of supply under the farming cluster. The pressure is on us to plant everything within the next two weeks,” said a youth farmer involved in the scheme. [Illustrative — verify or replace]
These stories mirror the national picture: inputs and services are more available than in some past seasons, but planting decisions in the next 30 days will determine how far Zimbabwe goes towards its 125 000-hectare goal.
What Technical Guidance Are Farmers Receiving?
Professor Jiri said wheat seminars like the one at Taguta Farm were being rolled out countrywide.
“To ensure farmers are fully capacitated, provincial wheat seminars are being conducted across the country and cascaded down to district level,” he said.
The events bring together agronomists, irrigation engineers, financial institutions, and farmer representatives to discuss issues such as variety choice, fertiliser regimes, water scheduling, pest and disease management, and marketing.
In Manicaland, experts reportedly walked farmers through yield targets per hectare, optimal seed rates, and the economics of different fertiliser strategies under present price conditions. [SOURCE REQUIRED] Farmers also raised concerns about access to spare parts for irrigation equipment and the cost of diesel for backup pumping during power interruptions.
These technical sessions are being supported by Government, the private sector, and development partners, complementing ongoing extension work and radio programmes that focus on wheat production best practice.
How Does Wheat Fit Into Zimbabwe’s Food Security Story?
Wheat has become a flagship crop in Zimbabwe’s recent agricultural recovery. Successive strong winter harvests in the past few seasons have significantly reduced the need for expensive wheat imports, allowing scarce foreign currency to be redirected to other priorities such as medicines, fuel, and machinery. [SOURCE REQUIRED]
Government’s drive to ramp up irrigation and mechanisation — highlighted again at the Manicaland seminar and echoed in recent policy statements — is central to this effort. Expanding irrigation reduces the vulnerability of crops like wheat to erratic rainfall patterns linked to climate change, a challenge that has already disrupted traditional summer crops such as maize.
FFA Explainer:
Irrigation And Climate Resilience
As rainfall becomes more unpredictable, relying solely on rain-fed agriculture exposes farmers to higher risk. Irrigation allows crops like wheat to be grown in winter using stored water or rivers, spreading risk across seasons and stabilising household and national food supplies.
The focus on wheat also creates new opportunities for women and youth, particularly in irrigated schemes where labour is more evenly distributed across the year and income from grain sales can support off-farm enterprises, education, and savings. Programmes that link youth groups to irrigated wheat blocks have been highlighted in several provinces as a path into commercial agriculture. [SOURCE REQUIRED]
What Should Farmers Do In The Next 30 Days?
With the clock ticking, agronomists and extension officers say the next four weeks will be decisive. For farmers who already have inputs and functioning irrigation:
- Prioritise immediate land preparation and planting to fall within the window.
- Confirm electricity schedules with local ZETDC offices or scheme leaders to avoid irrigation gaps.
- Stick to recommended seed rates and fertiliser plans shared at seminars or by extension officers.
- Join or strengthen local clusters and associations to benefit from ring-fenced electricity and shared support.
For those still facing constraints, experts recommend engaging with local Agritex officers, financial institutions, and contractors to explore shared equipment, contract farming, or late planting options, while understanding the yield risks involved.
Farm Future Africa has previously reported on efforts to ramp up irrigation and mechanisation, and on how coordinated planning between Government, millers, and farmers can stabilise wheat markets and prices for consumers.
The Race Against The Calendar
Back at Taguta Farm, as the seminar wrapped up, many farmers didn’t linger for long. They climbed into tractors, checked seed drills, and walked their fields with agronomists. Every hour now counts.
If the national target of 125 000 hectares is to be met — and if Zimbabwe is to keep edging closer to full wheat self-sufficiency — what happens between now and the end of May will be critical.
Yet there was a sense of determination in Makoni. As one farmer put it while checking the moisture in a freshly irrigated field, “We’ve been given the tools and the water. The rest is up to our hands and the days that are left.” [Illustrative — verify or replace]
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