daniel chigunweTariro Stacey Gatsi
THE Government has urged farmers to adopt innovative practices that counter challenges like diseases, weed and pest infestations that come with late planting to ensure they give crops the advantage of fully utilising nutrients score good yields to boost food and nutrition security in the process.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement chief agronomist Ms Rutendo Nhongonhema said farmers must give their crops an advantage over natural factors bent on countering productivity. She urged those practising conventional farming methods to do light disking to destroy weeds before planting while those producing crops under Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme should physically weed using hand hoes or even use herbicides depending on the weed spectrum.
The prolonged dry spell created favourable conditions for weeds to flourish, rapidly spreading and threatening crop yields. In appreciation of the gravity of the matter confronting farmers, the Government has moved in to encourage the adoption of agronomic practices that will allow farmers to salvage some yields.
“Farmers should adjust the seeding depth and plant shallowly to enable plants to quickly germinate and establish. They have to make sure they choose early maturing varieties because a lot of valuable time has already been lost. Early application of nitrogen at around two weeks after germination will give the crops the much-needed boost to quickly grow a canopy,” said Ms Nhongonhema.
“Nutrient management is also key and early application of nitrogen two weeks after emergency is encouraged so that we promote vigorous growth and hence early crop establishment,” said Ms Nhongonhema.
She added that Government’s initiatives were also meant to enhance farmer’s knowledge on integrated weed management practices, including the use of herbicides and crop rotation.
“Farmers must note that most herbicides need moisture to work well and hence must be used when the soil is moist either with a little irrigation or after receiving rains.
“Glyphosate, for instance, is an effective clean-up herbicide that we encourage farmers to use after getting information on how to use it from the sellers or Agritex extension officers,” she added.
The Government’s initiatives are not only focused on short-term but also long-term solutions for controlling pests whose populations easily balloon during the breeding season that has just started.
“Since we are in December and moving to January, the prevalence of pests such as the African and Fall armyworm increases. Their breeding period has just started and farmers, especially those who have not yet planted, are encouraged to put control measures in place. The breeding season coincides with the time when our crops are still young and vulnerable to attacks compared to older crops. The extent of damage is more pronounced in young crops than old ones.
Online Reporter