The Sunday Mail
Theseus Shambare
FARMERS must accelerate planting of summer crops, particularly maize, to meet the targeted hectarage, as the 2022-2023 planting window is still open, senior officials have said.
This comes as Government has commended local fertiliser and seed producers for providing sufficient inputs for the climate-proofed Presidential Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme.
This year, two million hectares of maize are set to be put under Pfumvudza. To date, over 13 000 tonnes of the targeted 15 000 tonnes of maize seed have been distributed to farmers. In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services chief director Professor Obert Jiri said farmers need to take advantage of the available inputs as local producers have shrugged off dependency on imports.
“We used to depend on Russian/Ukraine imports for manufactured fertilisers but since the conflict broke out in these two nations, we empowered the local industry by implementing various policies that favour importation of raw materials for local manufacturing.
Local manufacturers
“To date, we have no complaints in terms of maize seed or fertilisers; our local manufacturers have enough supplies for us.”
Prof Jiri said the area under maize to date is below target, hence the need to speed up planting.
“We have noted that farmers surpassed the previous season in terms of area covered, but we are still far in reaching our targeted hectarage. That is why we launched a planting campaign on all media platforms, encouraging farmers to get into planting full swing.
“We are saying ‘Handei kumunda varimi/Asihambeni emasimini balimi’, as soon as you receive effective rains. Farmers need to plant; the planting time is now.
“We have achieved wheat production and we want to take that momentum with us to maize fields so that by the end of the season, we will be 100 percent food secure from all angles,” said Prof Jiri.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union executive director Mr Paul Zakariya said time is still available for planting.
“We are confident that the targeted hectarage will be achieved. Many farmers used the early rains to finish off land preparation. Those who were ready to plant, as soon as they realised enough moisture, proceeded to plant. “We are certain that, as the season progresses, many farmers will follow through with their plans for the season,” he said.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe said “some banks are behind with their facilities and should quickly conclude all processes so that the waiting farmers catch up with the season”. According to the Meteorological Services Department, the country is still expected to receive normal to above normal rains.
