Wheat farmers engages ZESA | Business Times

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

 

Wheat farmers have proposed to make advance payments for electricity to power utility ZESA, a move expected to ensure constant supply of electricity to the growers.

ZESA has ring-fenced over 100MW of electricity to wheat farmers.

But, the wheat farmers say ZESA has been disregarding the ring-fencing agreement and continued to implement rolling power cuts.

“We are in discussions with ZETDC. We would like to pay in advance (for electricity) to ensure the power utility (ZESA) continues to function properly,” Food Crop Contractors chairperson Graeme Murdoch said this week.

“ZETDC will deduct from the eventual bill that we would have acquired throughout the winter wheat season.”

He said according to the arrangement, wheat farmers would pay when they deliver their cereal at the end of the season but “we want to make things easier for the power utility unit which is religiously giving us constant electricity supply”.

The development comes as the government has reviewed the 2023 winter wheat hectarage by 5% to 90 000 hectares from 85 000 hectares in a bid to meet the country’s self-sufficiency.

“We have met our 25 000 hectare target with the government also doing the same, pointing to a record wheat harvest for the country.

“I don’t have the actual figures on how much in terms of the forex that the country will save but conservatively a figure of US$150m may be saved due to wheat self-sufficiency,” Murdoch said.

Last year, Zimbabwe attained 380 000 metric tonnes, from 180 000 tonnes of wheat harvested in 2021.

Wheat production is expected to hit 450 000 metric tonnes this year, which is an 18% increase from 380 000 tonnes achieved in 2022, on the back of increased hectarage.

The private sector, which has set a target of 150 000 tonnes of winter wheat output this year, has mobilised funds to pay for electricity.

This reflects a 67% increase from 90 000 tonnes achieved last year.

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