Chronicle Editor
Nontobeko Mlotshwa, Sunday News Reporter
THE local fertiliser industry has mobilised adequate fertiliser for the 2021 winter wheat cropping programme, a move set to boost production this season.
The Government started distributing winter wheat inputs early this month in preparation for the targeted 340 000 tonnes expected to meet national requirements and rule out imports. The Government contracted fertiliser companies, Fertiliser Seed Grain (FSG) and Windmill Fertilizers together with CBZ Agro-yield Scheme and they have distributed 27 000 tonnes of basal fertilizer for the targeted 85 000 hectares of the cereal crop under CBZ Agro- yield Scheme which is set to curb the ever-growing import bill.
With the bulk of the fertiliser already distributed to expedite the planting of wheat, FSG spokesperson Mr Ngoni Kandeya said the fertiliser has been distributed to GMB depots and to big farms.
“We have almost completed our order for CBZ Agro-yield, all the basal fertiliser has been distributed to GMB depots and big orders direct to the farms as we envisage a good winter wheat season without any hassle with to regards to fertilizer. We distributed some orders to big farms that had ordered large quantities of fertiliser so as to cut out on transport costs,” he said.
Windmill Fertilizers chief executive officer Mr George Rundogo said they have completed deliveries and were still sitting on more stocks of both Compound D and top dressing which they are ready to provide.
“We have been ordered for command under the CBZ Agro-yield scheme and I am happy to announce that Windimill Distributors has since completed deliveries and we are still having more in stock which we are ready to provide once given orders,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu