Harvesting of early crops begins

maize.
Mashonaland Central agronomist Mr McLarence Mandaza said most farmers in the province were expected to start harvesting their maize next month.
“At the moment, farmers are harvesting soyabeans, cowpeas and sugarbeans,” he said.

“The major challenge being faced by farmers is the high combine harvesters charges which are affecting operations.”
Mr Mandaza said combine harvester operators in the province were charging between US$70 and US$100 to harvest a hectare.

He advised farmers with early planted soya beans and cow peas to harvest early to avoid shattering in the field and reduce yields.
Mr Mandaza said the recent rains were not of much benefit to crops, but many farmers took advantage of the rains to uproot their groundnuts.

Mashonaland East Agritex officer, Mr Kanisiyo Gazimbi said farmers who planted maize under irrigation had started harvesting, while others were preparing to harvest.
“Farmers are in the process of pulling groundnuts and drying them,” he said. “The farmers were affected by the recent rains which caused delays in harvesting.”

Mr Gazimbi said labour for other crops was a problem in the province since most tobacco farmers were still reaping, curing and grading their crop.
“There is labour shortage due to the high demand from the tobacco sector” he said.

Manicaland Agritex officer, Mr Godfrey Mamhare said farmers in his province had not started harvesting maize and only tobacco growers were concentrating on reaping and curing.
“We expect farmers to start harvesting most summer crops in May, although some few farmers who had an early groundnut crop have started harvesting,” he said.

Mr Mamhare said the province was carrying out a second crop assessment to determine the yield potential.
Most farmers planted late during the 2012/13 summer cropping season due to the delay in the onset of the rains.

Agritex said it would be in a position to give the impact of the late rains and dry spells after the second crop assessment.
The harvesting of the crops is expected to ease the food shortages that are being experienced in some parts of the country.