admin
George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
ZIMBABWE’S quest to cut the food import bill through utilisation of existing water bodies has received a major boost with the Lowveld sugar producer, Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe and the Masvingo Development Trust (MDT) putting a combined 5 000 hectares under winter maize this year.
Tongaat will contribute 4 000ha while MDT, a private organisation founded by senior political leaders in the area to venture into profit-making ventures in agriculture, mining and infrastructure development, will do 1 000ha.
Planting of the staple crop under the winter maize initiative is underway, with almost 20 percent of the crop at various stages of growth.
Initially, Tongaat had set a target of putting 3 000ha under maize to support Government’s food security drive but agreed to add another 1 000ha after a request by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who recently toured the firm’s winter maize project at Kilimanjaro under Hippo Valley estates.
Tongaat managing director Mr Aiden Mhere said they were on course to put 4 000ha under winter maize at its plantations at Hippo Valley, Triangle and Mwenezana estates.
“We have already planted maize under the winter cropping initiative with a target of 3 000ha this year but after a request from authorities, we will look for pockets where to increase the hectarage under maize to the desired 4 000ha,” said Mr Mhere.
“We have 1 100ha that will be put under maize at land cleared under the Kilimanjaro project and 750ha in the old Hippo Valley plantations and another 700ha at Triangle estates while at Mwenezana estates, we have another 500ha adding up to a combined 3 000ha of winter maize.”
Mr Mhere expressed optimism that they would fulfil their part of the bargain.
The land put under winter maize at Kilimanjaro has only been temporarily taken up to answer to Government’s call to help ensure food security.
Tongaat will continue with the sugarcane project after harvesting the winter maize crop.
Mr Mhere said Tongaat was presently harvesting 500ha of seed maize at Mwenezana, produced under a joint venture with Seed Co.
The seed production project will continue at Mwenezana with another 500ha earmarked for continuation of the project after harvesting the existing crop.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamir, said MDT had already planted on 500ha out of the targeted 1 000ha.
Minister Chadzamira paid tribute to Government for speedily availing inputs under the Command Agriculture programme to ensure this year’s winter maize programme was a success.
Last year, MDT produced 1 186 tonnes of staple grain under winter maize after partnering Tongaat to develop 326ha.
This year’s winter maize output here is expected to hit 40 000 tonnes due to increased hectarage.
Online Reporter