The Sunday Mail
Livingstone Marufu
More than one million farmers will benefit from the Presidential Agricultural Inputs Support Scheme this summer season, as President Mugabe’s Government steps up efforts to ensure household food security at a national level.
Government’s interventions also include a fairly wide cloud seeding programme – starting this week – designed to improve rainfall following expert forecasts of normal to below normal rains for Southern Africa in 2015 /16.
The interventions do not end there, as the State plans to drill boreholes in strategic A1 and communal farming areas.
Furthermore, the majority of local beneficiaries of Brazil’s US$38 million More Food for Africa Programme have received agricultural equipment and have already put their crop in the ground.
In May 2015, Zimbabwe – following last season’s drought – took delivery of agro-equipment from Brazil, and expanded irrigable land from 300 000 to 500 000 hectares.
The Meteorological Services Department has predicted a short summer cropping season saying below normal rains are anticipated from October through to December 2015, with increased precipitation expected in January-March 2016.
Forecasts indicate that the season will run from December to February/March, though traditionally, significant rains have come between October and March.
Such unpredictable rainfall patterns are linked to climate change – a phenominon occasioned by ozone-depleting gas emmissions.
Indications are that that 1 350 000 maize and cotton farmers are earmarked to get inputs under the Presidential Agricultural Inputs Support Scheme.
The scheme has been continentally-acknowledged for meeting objectives of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, which seeks to boost governments’ spending on agriculture to boost food security and spur socio-economic transformation.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister Davis Marapira told The Sunday Mail that though authorities were prioritising irrigation, cloud seeding would stimulate precipitation.
“Cloud seeding is likely to start this week to enhance chances of precipitation. I am very confident that we will receive substantial rains this week.
“We are also assisting our farmers with irrigation equipment through the Brazil-Zimbabwe More Food Programme to take the edge off perennial droughts that have affected Zimbabwe in recent years. This initiative is mainly for those who previously ran irrigation schemes.”
Mr Marapira also said: “The scheme has taken off in most areas and has potential to irrigate up to 1 800 hectares of land. In addition, we are focusing on drilling boreholes in A1 and communal farming areas without irrigation schemes. Communal and smallholder farmers contribute immensely to agriculture thus there should be a scheme like this one to assuage drought and plant crops all-year round.
“We have already started moving inputs to Grain Marketing Board depots to help more than 350 000 households under the Presidential Agricultural Input Support Scheme. Satellite depots are being set up to quicken distribution as we are racing against time. Each household is getting 10kg of seed, and 50kg of Compound D and another 50 kg of Ammonium Nitrate fertilisers.”
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made said Government was also keen to “bring back the glorious days of cotton production”.
“Government is giving emphasis to the cotton industry which should be resuscitated. Starting last Friday, we have been moving cotton seed and other inputs to various GMB depots. Enough seed and chemicals will be given to one million households. So, we expect a total of 250 000 hectares to be under cotton.
“As we distribute these inputs, we are also giving drought relief food to our cotton farmers. This sector is receiving special attention as we feel its farmers have been shortchanged in many circumstances. So, as Government, we want to help revive the industry.”
Dr Made continued: “I have instructed the GMB to open satellite depots in Matabeleland North, Manicaland, Masvingo, the Midlands and parts of Mashonaland East and West to minimise the distances in between depots.
“We have managed to get enough seed for the season and are very happy that fertiliser companies have been very cooperative in terms of supplies. I have also directed the GMB to arrange for their wonderful transporters to help distribute these inputs. Payment plans are in place; we promise to pay transporters on time.”
Agricultural meteorogist Ms Tamburiro Pasipangodya recommended timely planting, short season seed varieties, drought-tolerant crops, conservation farming and water harvesting.
“However, it should be highlighted that the final decision on the farming activities that farming activities that the farmers will carry out during the 2015/16 agricultural season should be supported by the farmers’ own knowledge of the rainfall performance/patterns within their locality and advice from the local Agritex extension agent as there are other factors besides rainfall that have to be considered.
“With regards to rainfall, there are variations in the rainfall performance that can only be picked up at local level which may not be evident within the national forecast. This, therefore, means that the farmers’ rainfall records will give guidance on such issues as; the start of the season, occurrence of dry spells or end of season with particular reference to his/her area.
“At national level, this would be supported by the short range (up to three days) and medium range (three to 10 day) forecasts. It is with such information that farmers can then decide on whether, that is, to plant or carry out any farming operation given the forecast of rainfall they are likely to receive.”
