adminland preparations.
Meteorological Services Department, agro-meteorologist, Mr John Mupuro, yesterday said: “We had a false start on the rainy season recently. We expect the actual rainy season to start mid November.”
Agritex principal director, Mr Joseph Gondo, said farmers in different parts of the country were finalising land preparations, while tobacco growers were concentrating on planting dry land and irrigated tobacco.
“Some farmers in wetlands have already planted their summer crops. Farmers in wetlands can start planting since they have enough moisture required for crop germination,” he said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union second vice president, Mr Berean Mukwende, said in many areas farmers were concentrating on land preparations and securing inputs.
“Some farmers are having problems securing fertilisers as they do not have enough cash,” he said.
Mr Mukwende said some farmers were now sending their grain to GMB depots so that they benefit from the grain-input swap facility.
The price of inputs, Mr Mukwende said, had remained high and the absence of affordable loan facilities from local financial institutions had made the situation worse for poor farmers.
Zimbabwe expects a normal rainfall season during the 2011/12 summer cropping season.
The first half of the season, which covers October, November and December, is expected to have normal rains with a bias towards below normal rains, while the second half (January, February and
March) is expected to have normal rains with a bias towards above normal.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter