Heavy rains falling in Manicaland have put up to half of the province’s wheat production at risk of quality downgrades, as prolonged moisture and harvesting could damage yields. A fall in grain quality means less returns on investment. Wheat is sensitive to moisture and the repeated rains and resultant excess humidity could prevent farmers from the country’s second largest grain producing region from harvesting at least 1500 hectares of late planted wheat. This spells disaster for the farmers, most of whom were contracted under Command Agriculture as wet conditions reduce the baking quality of wheat and could lead to problems with mycotoxins, which are toxic compounds produced when grain moulds. The harvested commodity is supposed to be purchased by the Government through the Grain Marketing Board. The affected hectarage is at risk of fusarium which affects wheat ears.