Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has advised farmers to start maize planting saying the rains recently received in most parts of the country can sustain crop germination.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri said in an interview that while rainfall patterns may vary from one area to the other, once farmers record 20 to 30 millimetres (mm) of rainfall, they can commence maize planting.
“From the predictions that we were given by the Meteorological Department, there are indications that the rains that we will receive as from now on will be a bit higher than the ones we received over the past weeks. However, it might differ from one area to the other but generally it will be enough for maize planting. Once we record 20 to 30mm rainfall levels, it is best for maize planting and we expect our crops to germinate well,” said Prof Jiri.
He encouraged farmers with irrigation schemes to even plant earlier. In fact, a snap survey carried out by the Sunday News in Umguza area revealed that most of the maize under irrigation was now at the reproductive development stage.
“Farmers in irrigation schemes are encouraged to plant even earlier for a better yield as our seed would have got what we call enough heat units,” said Prof Jiri.
Late last month, Prof Jiri urged farmers not to plant after a burst of rainfall showers, instead encouraging farmers to speed up land preparations such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa holing and accelerating tillage for those practicing conventional farming. This was after the Meteorological Services Department had advised that it was not the start of the rainy season.
In the wake of the predicted El Nino weather patterns, Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe has further indicated that staggered planting should be considered.
‘‘Stagger planting will help in the event that we get a longer dry spell. It is not one size fits all. Farmers should also work with Agritex officers and get advice from the Meteorological department so that they get informed advice. This shows that this El Nino phase is not as bad as anticipated. We need to be careful because the season changes,” he said.
Meanwhile, Matabeleland South acting provincial Agritex officer Mr Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu said farmers in his province have commenced planting with some still receiving their inputs.
“Most of the farmers with irrigation schemes have already started planting maize. Even those under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme have also commenced planting in some areas after receiving adequate rainfall to do so. We continue to distribute inputs as they come to ensure the farmers produce a good yield,” said Mr Ndlovu. — @nyeve14
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter