Presentation by Dr. Cobus LeRoux (ARC, South Africa) at Wheat for Food Security in Africa conference, Oct 8, 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

1. Synthesis of Southern Africa on wheat
production, constraints, market and future
C le Roux, E Morojele & R Patose, ARC, South Africa
Tegwe Soko, Bruce Mutari, Zimbabwe

3. South Africa: Wheat area planted
Source: CELC

4. South Africa: Wheat, Summer and Winter rainfall
areas planted
Source: BFAP

5. South Africa: Wheat production
Source: CELC

6. South Africa: Wheat production, domestic use and
imports
Source: BFAP

7. South Africa: Wheat exports
Source: SAGIS

8. South Africa: Wheat imports
Source: SAGIS

9. South Africa: Profile of Wheat Industry
• Commercial 99%
• Small-Holder <1%
• Dryland Production 56%
• Irrigation Production 44%
• Past 10 years: Production <19%
Consumption >17%
• Imports 37%

10. South Africa: Profile Small-holder producer
• 8% own their land
• 42% farm on commercial land
• 45% members of farmer organisations
• 61% of farms are smaller than 10 ha
• 77% of farmers have (on average) 9 years experience

11. South Africa: Production areas
Summer Rainfall Areas

12. South Africa: Production areas
Winter Rainfall Areas

13. South Africa: Small Holder needs
• Financial incentives such as input subsidies, insurance against
droughts and tax rebates to encourage small holder wheat
production
• Collateral security to fund wheat production
• Infrastructure in certain rural areas such as roads, rail, storage and
communication
• Small holder producers lack the opportunities of the economy of
scale
• Skills development in production, personnel management, marketing
and finance
• As for commercial producers the fluctuating international price
increases risk taking within wheat production of small holder
produces

14. South Africa: Commercial production realities 2012/2013
• Wheat production in the winter rainfall
and irrigation areas to increase slightly as
a result of higher (>US$350/ton)
international prices and higher yields
• Wheat production in the summer rainfall areas to decrease significantly
despite higher prices because of bigger maize plantings are expected for
2012, as well as less favourable soil moisture conditions during the early
season
• South African commercial producers are well organised, have access to
need-driven R&D outcomes, well adapted cultivars, proper information
and market access as well as a well functioning market

15. Zimbabwe

16. Zimbabwe: Wheat production
Wheat Production trends from 2000 to 2011
Year Area planted (Ha) Production (t) Average yield (t/ha)
2000 42 551 229 775 5.4
2001 37 269 197 526 5.3
2002 39 000 195 000 5
2003 40 809 122 427 3
2004 70 585 247 048 3.5
2005 65 454 229 089 3.5
2006 67 201 241 924 3.6
2007 49 707 149 110 3
2008 31 663 34 829 1.1
2009 20 634 47 910 2.3
2010 13 950 40 693 2.9
2011 15 982 53 073 3.3

17. Zimbabwe: Wheat production
Wheat Production by province for the year 2011 in comparison to 2010 season
Province 2011 Season 2010 Season
Area Average Production Area Average Production
Planted Yield (t/ha) (mt) Planted Yield (t/ha) (mt)
(Ha) (Ha)
Mashonaland West 4 721 3.84 18 132 4 713 3.48 16 416
Mashonaland Central 3 258 3.39 11 035 2 816 4.23 11 931
Mashonaland East 2 078 4.19 8 705 1 651 2.72 4 483
Manicaland 2 203 2.45 5 392 2 024 1.35 2 728
Midlands 1 343 3.68 4 936 715 1.19 853
Masvingo 710 2.55 1 814 549 1.91 1 048
Mat North 530 1.59 846 473 1.19 1 206
Mat South 1 138 1.95 2213 1 009 1.94 1 959
Total 15 982 3.32 53 073 13 950 2.91 40 623

18. Zimbabwe: Wheat production
Wheat Production Trends from 2000 to 2011

19. Zimbabwe: General production realities
Input Supply
• In the 2011 winter wheat season, the Government set aside US$10
million for seed and fertilizer enough to cover 16 502 Ha
• The main sources of accessing inputs during the season were a
Government Input Scheme and the open market
• Some farmers accessed inputs from contract farming and banks while
other used carry over inputs
• Access to inputs through the Government Input Scheme was limited
by liquidity constraints especially for the small-holder farming sectors
i.e. A1, SSCA, OR and communal farming sectors
• Some farmers managed to purchase inputs at the subsidised prices

20. Zimbabwe: General production realities
Seed
• Most farmers accessed wheat seed through the Government
Subsidised Programme
• Seed at US$ 0.50/kg was available at GMB depots in all wheat
growing districts. On the open market, wheat seed was being sold for
US$ 1.40/kg
• Due to cash constraints, most farmers in the SSCA, OR, A1 and
communal farming sectors used retained or carry over seed

21. Zimbabwe: General production realities
Fertilisers
• Government availed fertilisers at a subsidised price of US$15 per 50kg
bag in all wheat producing districts
• The large scale commercial and A2 farmers had financial resources to
buy the fertilisers whereas communal and A1 experienced had
financial limitations. Most of the fertilizer was accessed by A2 and
LSCF farming sectors

22. Zimbabwe: General production realities
Chemicals
• Use of herbicides was the principal weed control measure
• Farmers bought herbicides from the open market
• Small scale farmers who were affected by shortage of cash to
purchase chemicals used hand pulling as an alternative method
• Weed pressure was high in the small scale and communal farming
sectors

23. Zimbabwe: General production realities
Electricity
• Electricity availability improved compared to the 2010 season
• ZESA in collaboration with AGRITEX identified wheat growing clusters
which were exempted from the normal load shedding schedules
• Some farmers resorted to the use diesel generators to have an un-
interrupted power supply
• Electricity costs remain high and impacts negatively on profitability of
wheat production
• Certain farmers had their power disconnected due to non-payment of
bills
• Power cuts are reported to have led to pump and motor breakdowns

24. Zimbabwe: General production realities
Irrigation
• Water was available for the winter wheat crop except for certain
areas where levels in dams were low
• Pump and motor breakdowns were frequent mostly due to power
cuts as well as poor or no maintenance
• Most farmers could not repair or service irrigation equipment due to
a cash flow problem
• Crop losses were experienced in certain areas as a result of these
breakdowns
• Theft of irrigation equipment was also rampant

25. Zimbabwe: General production
Challenges
• Although seed and fertilisers were available at GMB depots on time,
financial constraints forced some farmers in the particular smallholder
farmers to use retained seed and plant to without fertilisers
• Control of Queleas were not effective since they were using
motorised ground sprayers
• Labour costs for harvesting and threshing were expensive, costing up
to US$6 per day
• Lack of financial support for irrigation equipment repairs and
maintenance
• Water and electricity charges were generally high

26. Zimbabwe: Recommendations
• Emphasise proper production practices in an endeavor to attain the
genetic potential of the cultivars which should be around 7 – 8
tons/ha
• Upgrade production infrastructure especially irrigation systems to
again get to ±70 000 ha under wheat production
• Both these interventions may bring us closer to the ±450 000 –
500 000 tons of national consumption
• Assistance with Quelea bird control
• Financial support for production inputs

27. Wheat Production and Imports1
Production (‘000 tons) Imports (‘000 tons)
Botswana ? 80 (from SA)
Angola (2008) 4 750
Lesotho (2012) 16 75
Madagascar (2012) 0 125
South Africa (2012) 1 900 1 500
Zambia (2012) 237 50
Zimbabwe (2012)2 53 250
1 Mundi O-Index US Department of Agriculture
2 National Consumption 400 – 450 000t/annum, Tegwe Soko

28. Conclusion
• Southern Africa has the potential to be ‘wheat secure’ by means
of national production but only through:
• Increased and sustained Government commitment
– R & D Funding
– Staffing
– Infrastructure
• Increased R&D regional coordination, collaboration and
prioritisation