Staff Reporter

Government has assured the nation of adequate water security and preparedness for the 2025 Winter Plan, with national dam levels at an encouraging 88.5 percent capacity, surpassing last season’s 82 percent.

Speaking after the Cabinet meeting yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, outlined the Government’s commitment to ensuring a successful winter cropping season.

“With national dam levels at 88.5 percent as of 13 March 2025, we are confident that we have sufficient water reserves to sustain the winter cropping season,” Dr Muswere said.

Government has set an ambitious 2025 Winter Cereal Production target, covering 135 250 hectares, with wheat at 120 000 hectares, barley at 6 500 hectares, and Irish potatoes at 8 750 hectares.

The wheat production goal is 600 000 metric tonnes, far exceeding the national annual requirement of 360 000 metric tonnes.

Barley and potato production are also expected to rise to 39 000 metric tonnes and 263 250 metric tonnes, respectively.

To guarantee the Plan’s success, Government has identified 21 critical enablers to be closely monitored.

These include essential resources, such as power, water, seed, fertiliser, and fuel, as well as financial support enablers like farmer payments, finance, and insurance.

Additionally, operational aspects, such as mechanisation, contract farming, and coordination will be prioritised, alongside risk management measures, including pest control, land security, and veld fire prevention.

Dr Muswere emphasised that achieving these targets would require a collaborative effort.

“A whole-of-Government and whole-of-sector approach will be used to achieve the set target,” he said.

Meanwhile, Government has pledged to continuously assess progress through capacity-building initiatives, regulatory policies, soil management strategies, and marketing frameworks.

With robust planning and coordination, authorities are optimistic that Zimbabwe’s winter cropping season will not only meet but exceed national food security expectations.