Govt to reissue seed for failed crops

Leroy Dzenga
Senior Reporter

The Government has committed to re-allocate maize seed to some farmers under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa and Command Agriculture programmes after their crops were affected by a lull in rainfall activity following early planting.

The reissued seed is set to be availed as soon as possible to ensure that the affected farmers can replant without delay.

Assessments are being conducted countrywide on the affected crops, with Agricultural, Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) officers on the ground to compute the required allotments.

Although the country is expecting normal to above-normal rains this season, there was a dry spell in some parts of the country from late November to mid December last year, which affected the early planted crop, in what was a reminder of the change of weather patterns due to climate change.

Farmers in some parts of the country were left counting their losses, as seed failed to germinate or where it germinated, it wilted owing to lack of rainfall and high temperatures.

In the wake of the losses, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has approved a plan to reissue seed to farmers signed up to the national input support programmes.

Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Agritex deputy director responsible for crops in the Ministry, Mrs Kundai Makuku, said although assessments are ongoing, the decision to replace seed has been made.

“We are receiving reports from different parts of the country that there are farmers whose seed failed to germinate due to weather conditions. It is not their fault, so they will be given seed to replant,” she said.

Mrs Makuku said due to the urgency of the matter, the decision-making structure will be decentralised.

“We have established committees in the districts and wards. These will be assessing farms and advising where there is a need for seed replacement. If they see that there is a genuine need, they can request for more inputs. In the interest of time, these committees will be making determinations using laid down criteria to identify where seed reissuing may be needed,” she said.

Those who are yet to plant will also have their seed varieties changed from long term varieties to early maturity.

On Thursday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka directed Agritex to withdraw long term varieties and replace them with early maturity varieties.

“Agritex should withdraw long season varieties of maize and ensure that they are replaced by short season varieties,” said Minister Masuka while addressing Agritex officers in Mashonaland West province.

Agriculture Rural Development Authority chairman Mr Ivan Craig on Friday told The Sunday Mail that the decision will save many farmers from heartbreak.

“Rains were late in many places across the country, and as such, seed has to be changed to allow farmers to get good yields. Those who planted in October basing on the first rains are better, as their seed germinated. Although their crop experienced stress, it did not die, the November rains allowed their crop to make it to December.

“However, those who planted afterwards especially around November, did not get germination and in some cases have to replant,” he said.

Mr Craig, who is also an agronomist, said the window to plant long-term varieties has closed and if farmers continue with such seed, they will bring stunted maize onto the market.

“It will be characterised with poor flowering, the grain may not develop to required levels between now and March,” he said.

Mr Craig urged farmers to embrace short term varieties, as the window to plant them is still open until mid-January.

“Farmers should also consider other crops like sunflower, sweet potatoes and soya beans,” he said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union president Mr Paul Zakariya welcomed the move by Government, saying changing varieties will give farmers a fighting chance.

“This is a step in the right direction. We are only left with just over 80 days up to the end of March and surely there is a need to consider short-term varieties because of the limited time we are left with.

“Farmers should also consider growing traditional grain varieties and sunflowers. The gesture (from Government) is commendable because it comes at a time when inputs are very expensive and farmers would struggle to buy them on their own,” said Mr Zakariya.