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Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
More initiatives are being introduced to enhance crop production in the next summer cropping season to get the most out of inputs and increase profitability by getting more from each hectare and from each dollar of seed and fertiliser.
This has been demonstrated through the numerous programmes the Government has come up with for every summer season, as it seeks to ensure better farming to promote production and productivity.
Government fully acknowledges the role agriculture plays in the country’s march towards the attainment of an upper middle income economy as envisaged by Vision 2030.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development’s report on the country’s state of preparedness for the 2023/24 season unequivocally indicated that this year’s focus was on increased productivity with the target areas for the major crops meant to grow 10 percent.
The ministry indicated that farmers are going to receive inputs early so that they plant their crops on time to increase productivity.
It also states that intensive in training services of extension workers will also boost the outputs.
The ministry list is: early mobilisation of inputs and other resources for crop production to be done before the season for both Government and private sector programmes; intensive in-service training for agricultural extension officers (business advisers) to improve their knowledge and skills to assist farmers with this in-service training both physical and online; intensive farmer training through lead farmer/master farmer training (both physical and online) and this tailor made to suite each agro-ecological region; massive development and publication of reference materials on crop and livestock will be done to increase productivity.
The ministry will also use mass media in disseminating crop production and good agronomic practices.
The ministry added that farmers will be rewarded through field days, shows and competitions, leading to improved production.
In the 2023-24 agricultural season crops grown will continue to be determined by agro-ecological region in order to improve productivity.
“Some revision has been necessitated by the need to climate-proof agriculture and ensuring that crops grown in various agro-ecological regions are those determined by the requirement of the agro-ecological regions,” said the ministry.
Farmers in high rainfall areas which are in Natural Farming Regions 1 and 2 are the ones who will grow maize.
Production of crops which require less rainfall will be done in Natural Farming Region 4 and 5.
Promotion of traditional grains like sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet as well as short season and low water requirement crops like African peas will be done in these regions.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust vice president Mr Edward Dune said good agronomic practices and early preparation of the farming season should be maintained to sustain farming industry.
Mr Dune said the soil was the main growing media in which crops grow, adding that it is a key ingredient in increasing crop production.
“Farmers must be able to select the right seeds while agronomic practices should be advocated for to achieve the desired yields,” he said. “Increasing crop productivity is best achieved by understanding the crop management thus planning for planting dates, choosing whether the climatic conditions are favourable for the type of the crop Soil pH, fertility status and structure determine the crop’s ability to utilise available nutrients to achieve an intended yield level. The pH level describes the soils acidity or alkalinity.”
Mr Dune added that the choice of crop or variety to grow should always be guided by market analysis and seasonal suitability.
“Crop and variety choice is the cornerstone to profitable farming, hence farmers should seek advice from agronomists,” he said. “Climatic factors such as humidity, cloud cover, wind, altitude, air temperature and the rainfall pattern are important elements in farming because they act as the enablers for the crop to grow.”
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe said farmers should continue to use good agronomic practises in order to sustain themselves and the country at large.
“We can assure that we can sustain ourselves,” he said. “What is also important is that if farmers should follow good agronomist practises so that we can continue to produce more. If farmers are managing their crop very well, no challenges are likely to be faced.”
The agricultural terrain has changed tremendously, thanks to the support programmes that have seen most farmers embracing the concept of running farming as a business, which was introduced by the Second Republic.
Next season, the Government is targeting a cereal production of 3,7 million tonnes.
With the right crops, almost all farmers should be able to grow their household grain with increasing amounts for sale and with the country as a whole growing more grain than it needs, so building reserves, allowing more to be used in livestock feed, and possibly resuming exports of grain.
Online Reporter