dyton mupawaenda
Sharon Masocha and Violet Chenyika
FARMERS in Karoi are basking in the glory of a successful season in which they managed to grow maize to enhance their livelihood.
A field day event held on Friday at Inverness Farm in Hurungwe, brought together farmers to share knowledge and experiences on climate-smart agricultural practices.
As rains falter and temperatures rise, farmers are facing challenges in growing crops in a changing climate.
Speaking at a field day in Buffalo Downs, Hurungwe District in Ward 20 last week, Agritex officer Mr Andrew Mafuzhe said farmers should use climate-smart farming techniques.
“It is now common knowledge that our seasons are becoming shorter and shorter with each passing year,” he said.
“So our call to farmers is that by June or July, they should start preparing their Pfumvudza plots so that they can plant with early rains.”
The event drew over 100 farmers who shared knowledge and best practices for maize production during this climate changing period.
Inverness farm manager, Mr Artwell Gidion, highlighted the importance of following agronomic advice to adapt to changing conditions.
“When we are talking about hectares, we will be looking at thousands, with Zadzamatura we produced 68 hectares of maize which resulted in 85 percent yield,” he said.
“The seed produced is a 2-in-1 variety that we call early to medium. Our maize can give us 12 tonnes per hectare.
“We didn’t expect such high yields because we started farming on January 2 using 23ml, however, 25ml is expected for the seeds to grow well.
“As farmers, we should continue to abide by what we are advised to do by officials, which includes timeframes to plant, what to plant, and when to apply fertilisers and chemicals.”
The event was organised by Zadzamatura company which is working with farmers to improve and promote food security in Zimbabwe.
Zadzamatura’s managing director, Dr Daniel Myers encouraged farmers to test their soil before planting crops as a way to know the requirement of the fertilizer and chemicals to be used.
“As Zadzamatura and other seed companies in the country, we are rallying behind the government’s food security agenda by producing hybrid seed varieties that also offer improved resistance to drought and common pests, ensuring both food security and better returns for smallholder farmers,” he said.
“We continue to urge our farmers to work closely with agricultural extension officers so that they are guided accordingly in line with changing weather patterns.”
Mrs Susan Murisa, a traditional leader, said her community was now involved in monitoring Pfumvudza/Intwasa input distribution together with councillors and Government officials.
Online Reporter