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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
Farmers have stepped up efforts to improve plant health throughout the country after 285 000 farmers so far take up training on weed control to ensure optimum yields this farming season.
Weeds greatly retard crop growth by competing with the plants for nutrients, light and water, it is therefore essential to remove weeds early and keep crops weed-free during their period of major growth.
Zimbabwean farmers risk losing between 50 and 80 percent of potential maize yield if they fail to effectively control weeds among their crop in the first 10 to 12 weeks from germination.
This season, Government has introduced a programme on National war against weeds where 284 707 farmers acquired skills in improving weed management and crop productivity in maize and generate technologies that could be integrated into the production practices of small holder farmers to suppress weeds.
Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services chief director, Professor Obert Jiri said farmers may lose a high percent of potential maize yield if they fail to effectively control weeds among their crop in the early weeks of germination. Prof Jiri said the main aim of the programme is to conscentise farmers to control weeds in early stages of the crop.
He emphasised that failure to control weeds during the first few weeks of planting, the crop cycle leads to a reduction in yield.
“Provisional agronomists were also trained in the programme until it cascaded to districts where extension workers were also trained and right now we have many farmers who were equipped with requisite skills on how to control the weeds with chemicals and equipment such as hoes. They also learn different types of weeds, their impact and measures to be taken to eliminate them. So far the programme is currently in all provinces with farmers in field schools acquiring a lot of knowledge so that we produce good yields,” said Prof Jiri. In its weekly update, Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services, Mashonaland central has the highest number of farmers trained on the programme with 138 142 farmers followed by Manicaland with 122 854 farmers and Mashonaland east has trained 69 889 farmers.
Farmers Unions have hailed the programme adding that it will help to improve yields on farming.
Former Zimbabwe National Farmers Union (ZNFU) vice president Mr Edward Dune said the programme is a positive development which will ensure that weeds are totally eliminated to ensure a good harvest.
“Weeds are notorious. Any delay in weed eradication will result in low yields. This is a positive move but we appeal for a resource back up package of herbicides so that they can procure them.
This is a form of empowerment. Weeds need to be controlled, they can cause a big damage to the crops,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Farmers Union (ZNFU) president Mrs Monica Chinamasa said the development is greatly appreciated adding that it will impact positively in farming.
“Any training that will empower farmers is most welcome. We are grateful for the programme. As Farmers representatives there is a need to mobilise farmers so that they get training and acquire skills that will sustain and improve the agriculture sector,” she said.
So, as the rains pound throughout the country this season, crop farmers need to realise that weeds will sprout and outdo crops in the fight for growing space and uptake of nutrients.
They aggressively compete for water, nutrients and sunlight, resulting in reduced crop yield and poor crop quality.
They can also affect the operation of farm machinery and push farmers to spend a large amount of time and money managing them.
Yellowing of leaves is one sure sign that crops are losing the battle to weeds and this will eventually translate into compromised yields, as most of the vital nutrients would have been shared between the crop and the weeds.
The incessant rains may make it difficult for the farmer to contain weeds but there are always ways of minimising the damage they may cause on crops.
Farmers can use the mechanical way of weed control, which entails the employment methods that kill or suppress weeds through physical disruption.
Such methods include pulling, digging, disking, ploughing and mowing. Success of various mechanical control methods is dependent on the life cycle of the target weed species.
Hand pulling and digging are effective on annual and biennial species and as they remove the weeds, farmers need to make sure they remove the upper 2-3 inches of tap-root to prevent re-growth. Hand pulling or digging a perennial weed such as leafy spurge can be a futile effort unless one has the time necessary to diligently dig or pull re-growth over several seasons.
Online Reporter