Wheat policy options in Zimbabwe and SADCC countries: preliminary findings

Abstract

Traditionally, wheat has not been a major staple food in the SADCC countries. However, demand for wheat is growing rapidly in the region. At the same time, few of the countries have a sizeable domestic wheat industry. Thus, the region relies on imports for two-thirds of its wheat consumption. Table 1 shows that only 4 SADCC countries have wheat production exceeding ten thousand tonnes per annum. The scope for expanding production in the region is limited because environmental conditions of some SADCC countries simply do not favour the economic production of wheat. Nevertheless, wheat's productivity in more tropical environments is being improved (CIMMYT, 1985). Some economic considerations for developing a domestic wheat industry are discussed in Byerlee and Longmire, (1986).