Wheat farming in Zimbabwe

Wheat field

Growing conditions and growing area

• Very capital-intensive crop growth mainly by commercial farmers in Zimbabwe.
• Capital required for seeds, irrigation equipment, fertilizers and machinery.
• Being a temperate crop, it is grown in winter under irrigation.
• Rainfall must be at least 1 000 mm and temperature between 15-24°
• Soils required are stiff loamy or clayey but well-drained soils necessary.
• Flat or undulating land ideal to enable use of machinery at harvesting.
• Main growing season is April to September.
• As crops grows irrigation by boom or overhead sprinkler method occurs as well as spraying by hand or light aircraft.
• As the crops ripens, irrigation stops, seeds harden and dry up awaiting harvesting by combine harvesters.
• Crop must be protected against birds.

Processing and marketing

• Wheat harvesting is done by use of combine harvesters which is cut and thrash the crop, leaving behind thick broken stalks to use as livestock feed.
• The harvested wheat is collected in tractors to GMB depots.
• It is sold to millers by the Zimbabwe Agricultural Commodity Exchange (ZIMACE) who grind it to flour for bread, scones and cakes.
• Zimbabwe produces 200 000 tonnes annually and must import another 100 000 tonnes to meet local demand.

Problems

• Wheat rust and fungal infection requiring expensive chemicals to combat.
• Drought
• Quelea birds eating the crop before.
• Harvesting
• Shortage of machinery at harvesting such machinery has to be hire from South Africa.

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