Moffat Mungazi
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
MANICALAND is poised for a decent harvest as findings of the 2024/25 Crop and Livestock Assessment Survey shows a 2,7 percent increase in maize planted area – from 266 901 to 274 126 hectares.
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency conducted the first round of the survey, released last month, providing an overview of the status of crops, livestock and fisheries to effectively monitor progress towards attaining national strategic objectives outlined in National Development Strategy (NDS1).
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka said of the 274 126ha, about 10 000ha was declared a write-off due to erratic and scattered rains, while Pfumvudza went down in the province by -21 percent from 91 148ha in 2023 to 72 152ha in 2024.
Nationally, maize planted area increased from 1 728 897ha in the 2023/24 season to 1 822 904ha this season – a 5,4 percent increase, marginally above the 1 800 000ha target.
However, 74 000ha was recorded as a write-off due to a prolonged dry spell in the late November to mid-December 2024.
The area planted under traditional grains increased by seven percent to 434 374ha from 405 116ha – four percent above target.
The pearl millet planted area increased to 251 265ha, a 29 percent increase, from 194 232ha last year, and nine percent below target.
Overall, the area under staple cereals (maize and traditional grains) was 101 percent of the targeted area, being 2 540 385ha against a target of 2 520 000ha, but 8,1 percent higher than the 2 349 921ha achieved in the 2023/24 season.
There was a marginal increase in the beef cattle population of 0,4 percent compared to last year, with Midlands leading at 1,3 percent, followed by Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West (one percent each), and Masvingo (0,8 percent).
“Manicaland recorded 3 071 cattle deaths, and in response to the El Niño-induced drought, Government and partner efforts focussed on supplementary feeding (survival feed, silage and hay), provision of enhanced veterinary services, and provision of water (borehole drilling) and the establishment of Ward Drought Mitigation Centres. Sadly, a cumulative 44 766 cattle were lost to drought, with 84,5 percent lost in Matabeleland provinces.
“The 2024/25 season had an erratic start, in mid-November, with very scattered rainfall, with Mashonaland provinces having a delayed commencement of the season. Localised dry spells led to crops wilting in some parts of the country. With the late start of the rains, some farmers switched to sorghum in the traditional maize growing areas.
“November and the first half of December experienced extreme dry and hot weather conditions, leading to one of the driest starts to a rainy season in many parts of Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, as well as certain areas in Masvingo, Midlands, Manicaland, and Mashonaland East provinces. The rainfall distribution was uneven across the country, with some regions receiving less rainfall than expected. This had negative implications for agriculture, and water supply.
“By the time of assessment, the maize crop condition was generally fair to good. The crop condition under the Pfumvudza was fair to good, and farmers anticipate higher yields than those under conventional tillage. As part of pest surveillance, sample moth traps were set up throughout the country. African armyworm moth catches were high in Matabeleland North and Manicaland (Chimanimani),” said Minister Masuka.
Area under sorghum increased by seven percent to 434 374ha from 405 116ha in the previous season, with notable increases in Masvingo, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland South, and Midlands provinces, attributed to improved crop agro-ecological matching strategies, particularly in agro-ecological Regions three to five.
Manicaland planted 55 969ha, up from 47 087ha in 2023/24 season.
The area under Pfumvudza sorghum reduced by 10 percent in the 2024/25 season to 212 446ha from 237 053ha last season.
Manicaland planted 14 843ha against 40 241ha planted last season, of which 1 360ha were a write-off due to prolonged dry spell in December.
Pearl millet increased by 29 percent from 194 230ha to 251 265ha this season, with notable increases in Matabeleland North and Manicaland.
Of the 9995ha of pearl millet written off, some 87 percent was from the communal sector while 10 percent was from the A1 sector.
Finger millet hectarage increased by 13 percent to 6 087ha from the 5 388ha planted last season.
Cotton production increased by 75 percent to 20 020ha from the 11 411ha planted in the province, while soya bean increased by 465 percent to 1 097ha from 194ha the previous season.
Groundnuts suffered the heaviest reduction of -20 percent down to 43 203ha from the 54 173ha the previous season, while sunflower also suffered a -20 percent reduction to 10 923ha from 13 625ha.
Sesame went down to 9176ha from 9858ha the previous season.
Tobacco production went up by 29 percent to 25 625ha from 19 795ha, while the area under paprika went up by 22 percent from 354ha to 432ha this season.
Area under edible bean went up by 46 percent to 6 321ha from 4 315ha the previous season.
African pea went down by -27 percent from 14 220ha to 10 356ha, while area under sweet potato plummeted by -16 percent from 4 159ha to 3 475ha this season.
National goat population declined from 5 087 155 in 2023 to 4 883 669 in 2024, marking a four percent decrease, while the total sheep population increased slightly from 742 810 in 2023 to 746 277 in 2024, reflecting a 0,5 percent rise.
The total pig population decreased slightly from 302 853 in 2023 to 301 747 in 2024, a 0,37 percent decrease.
Manicaland currently has 771 765 goats compared to 785 192 the last season; 99 341 sheep from 95 519 last season.
“The majority of country had fair to good cattle condition, with well-maintained livestock in central, western, and southern regions. However, certain areas, had poor cattle condition. Frequent Dipping (Dark Green and Light Green – 4+ times and 3 times) was practiced in parts of Mashonaland, Midlands, and some areas of Matabeleland North.
‘‘These regions are benefitting from consistent tick control, reducing the risk of tick-borne diseases like Theileriosis and Anaplasmosis. Most tick-borne disease cases were caused by theileriosis, followed by heartwater, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. A similar pattern was observed in the number of deaths due to tick-borne diseases. Theileriosis also had the highest case fatality rate, followed in that order by heartwater, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
“The national dairy herd increased from 60 398 in 2023 to 65 659 in 2024 – 8.7 percent growth. There was a significant increase in milk production, from 99 823 775 litres in 2023 to 114 699 440 litres in 2024. This is a 14.9percent growth. The number of registered dairy units increased from 250 in 2022 to 255 in 2024,” said Minister Masuka, adding that Manicaland has 13 milk collection points, the highest in the country.
“Government identified 2 300 000 cattle as being at risk from the worst drought in 43 years. Depleted pastures and diminishing water supply were identified as key challenges, to be compounded by an increasing disease burden from tick-borne diseases, as water points dried up reducing dipping services.
“Government responded by mass-information dissemination about mitigation, and adaptation, including treating livestock as a business, targeted culling, establishment of ward drought mitigation centres, and provision of silage and hay, among others.
‘‘Consequently, 44 766 cattle were lost, which is 1,98 percent of the population at risk. The grazing condition (quantity and quality) and water supply have become satisfactory in most regions of the country following widespread rains received in January. The livestock is in a fair to good body condition. Despite the drought, the national beef cattle herd grew by 0,4 percent from 5 718 523 in 2023 to 5 741 397 in 2024.
‘‘The national dairy herd increased by 8,7 percent from 60 398 in 2023 to 65 659 in 2024. This resulted in a 15 percent increase in raw milk production to 114 699 440 litres from 99 823 775 litres in 2023. Reductions were recorded in goats and piggery,” said Minister Masuka in the report
Online Reporter