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Elita Chikwati
Senior Agriculture Reporter
Farmers are still confident of a good 2021/22 summer cropping season despite the late onset of the rains.
This comes as Government has advised farmers to continue planting until mid-January.
In most parts of the country, farmers have continued planting and replanting and most of them said they are hopeful of a good harvest.
Some farmers were concerned that they could no longer afford to replant but Agritex has announced that plans are underway to re-allocate maize seed to those under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa and Command Agriculture programmes whose crops failed due to the dry spell.
The country experienced a false start of the rainfall season coupled with erratic spatial rainfall distribution especially in the northern parts of the country.
The Agritex weekly crop report indicated that by December 24, all Mashonaland provinces, Manicaland and the bulk of Matabeleland North had received below normal rains when compared with the long-term average to date.
The report stated that Midlands, Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces are in the normal category of their long-term average rainfall to date.
Most parts of the country received rains during the weekend and farmers have taken advantage of this to intensify planting and replanting.
Others were weeding and playing top dressing fertiliser.
Retreat farmer, Mr Samuel Matsika said it was too early for me to lose hope.
“The rains were late and there was a dry spell. The early planted crop had started to show signs of moisture stress but we have received significant rains during the past days.
The crop has improved and we are now applying top dressing fertiliser,” he said.
Mr Matsika said she will seek for advice from Agritex and also follow the meteorological services Department rainfall updates so he can make informed decisions.
“We have also planted different crops. We planted maize, groundnuts and sugarbeans and if another crop fails, the other will perform better and we will have food on the table,” he said.
Another farmer, Mrs Fadzai Chimhini of Harare said she was happy as her crops have recovered.
“During the past days we experienced heat and crops were slowly beginning to lose out to the high temperatures. We are now planting sweet potatoes. The maize we replanted is in good condition,” she said.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Anxious Masuka urged farmers not to despair but to continue planting short season varieties.
“The 2021/2022 season is upon us. Although there has been a delayed start to the season, the rains are finally upon us, throughout the country.
“I urge all our farmers to expedite land preparation and planting. Planting can continue to 15 January, and let us switch to short season maize varieties, traditional grains and sunflower,” he said.
Agritex, chief agronomist, Mrs Rutendo Nhongonhema recently advised farmers still planting to prioritise crops such as cowpeas, sugarbeans and sunflower.
She said urged split top dressing fertiliser application.
“Robust scouting for pest especially fall army-worm is a must for all farmers as caterpillar build up is at its peak, from mid- December up to end of January. These coupled with the late start of the season also means the crop is tender is susceptible to attack,” she said.
By December 24, more than 587 930 hectares had been put under summer crops.
Farmers planted 377 517 hectares of maize, 64 367 ha of sorghum, 35 940 hectares of pearl millet, 13 090ha of soya beans and 37 660ha of cotton.
Tobacco growers have also planted 57 796ha while 1 560ha was put under sunflower.
Online Reporter