Zimbabwe’s wheat harvest has begun on a promising note, boosted by the introduction of a new system designed to improve efficiency for farmers and stakeholders.
Acting Chief Director of ARDAS in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Leonard Munamati, said the Dekad system was introduced to organise the 122,566 hectares planted into blocks that indicate when and how much wheat will be harvested at each stage.
He explained that the approach was designed to ensure smoother operations across the value chain by staggering the harvest, making better use of combine harvesters, enabling farmers to plan ahead, and allowing contractors and financiers to manage payments and cash flows more effectively.
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“This system allows everyone involved to prepare properly,” Munamati said. “When farmers secure harvesting equipment on time, it means their hard work is protected, and nothing goes to waste.”
So far, 758 hectares have been harvested with an average yield of 6.1 tonnes per hectare, keeping the country on track to reach its target of at least 600,000 tonnes this season.
Munamati also urged farmers to remain vigilant against veld fires, warning that they remain a major threat to the crop.
“The wheat in our fields is the result of months of dedication,” he said. “By working together, we can protect it and make this year’s harvest a success for our nation.”
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