Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter

More than 30 000 hectares of wheat have germinated across the country as planting intensifies in various provinces.

Wheat experts have urged farmers to continue planting as the window is still open.

Farmers were discouraged from planting beyond June 15.

In an interview, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Agritex director, Mr Stancilae Tapererwa said farmers should not plant further than June 15.

“So far, 30 000 hectares of wheat have germinated as more wheat is being planted across the country,” he said. “The optimum planting window was up to May 31. For all plantings done from June 1, we need to increase seed arte to compensate for reduced tillers (shoots) from 125 kilogrammes per hectare to 150 kg/ha.

“We need to make sure farmers close wheat planting by June 10. For late planting we encourage short season varieties.”

A target of 340 000 tonnes of wheat has been set for the coming winter cropping season, the first time since commercial wheat farming started in the 1960s.

Targeted tonnage is going to meet national requirements and rule out imports.

The country requires 360 000 tonnes of wheat annually. The largest single harvest in history was in 1990 when 325 000 tonnes were harvested.

During this season, 60 000 hectares will be produced through a Government guaranteed CBZ Agro-Yield programme, 15 000 hectares will be funded by private contractors and 10 000 hectares will be funded through the Presidential Winter Wheat Scheme.