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Herald Reporters
ALMOST 3,7 million hectares were planted with summer crops during the present farming season with increases registered in the area planted to sunflower, groundnuts, paprika, sesame and tobacco, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries Water and Rural Development has reported.
Farmers planted 3 674 149ha to crops, 8 percent more than the 3 387 038ha planted during the last summer season and with the better rainfall pattern meaning that the final harvests will be a lot more than 8 percent higher.
The 2023 pre-harvest summer season crop, livestock and fisheries assessment report shows that the area under maize increased by 3 percent to 1 903 668ha from 1 962 575ha last year.
“A significant increase in area planted was recorded in Manicaland and Midlands provinces, while no significant changes were noted in Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central.
“The crop planted from November to early December was well established due to the good rains experienced in most parts of the country. The earliest planted maize crop is now at the late reproductive or maturity stage and is in good condition,” said the report.
Maize ranges from early to late vegetative stage for December and the January plantings to maturity stage for the November to early January plantings.
“The communal sector still contributes the largest area under maize with 62 percent, while the large scale and A2 contributed 8 percent of the area under maize, which is a 2 percent decrease from 10 percent in the 2021/2022 season,” said the report.
While maize plantings increased very moderately, the higher expected harvest coming from better yields after good rains, significant increases were recorded in the area put under traditional grains and oils seeds.
The area planted to pearl millet increased by 15 percent from 157 634ha last season to 180 661 ha. Finger millet increased by 56 percent from 21 242ha to 33 208ha.
Farmers planted 331 262ha of groundnuts, an increase of 27 percent from 261 758ha, sunflower more than tripled from 45 586ha to 140 940ha while sweet potatoes increased by 16 percent from 27 860ha to 32 353ha.
The area under paprika this season increased by 82 percent from 885ha to 1 615ha while sesame increased by 58 percent from 17 452ha to 27 537ha.
The area put under tobacco increased by 19 percent from 110 770ha to 131 656ha.
The 2022/2023 season was marked by a normal start to the season in the northern and central parts of the country unlike the late start to the 2021/2022 season.
The southern parts of the country, Matabeleland South and southern parts of Masvingo, experienced an uneven start to the season which was followed by an uneven spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall.
However, the rainfall situation improved in January 2023 particularly across the northern parts of the country.
While incessant rains were received in most parts of the country during last month, some parts of Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North provinces generally remained dry with very little rainfall and planting activity.
Inputs supply for the 2022/2023 agricultural season was anchored on four major supply routes: the Presidential Input Support Scheme, National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme, contract farming schemes by private sector agro-value chain businesses and self-financing.
The Presidential Input Scheme targeted vulnerable smallholder farmers under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, while the National Enhanced Agriculture Productivity Scheme (NEAPS) provided support for larger-scale farmers.
Compared to the 2022/2021 season, the distribution of Presidential scheme inputs has largely been timely. In particular, basal fertilisers and seed were distributed in time.
Crop condition is generally good in most parts of the country. Farmer Mr Edward Dune said there was a need for split applications of top dressing fertilisers.
“Crops planted on light soils tend to suffer from leaching when there are incessant rains as we have been experiencing of late.
“The best solution for farmers is to start applying top dressing in splits.
“We have started seeing damage to crops in certain areas due to the incessant rains especially in areas where farmers did not apply manure or Compound D at planting,” he said.
Mr Dune said despite all other factors, this summer season was promising to be one of the best with the country receiving the best rains.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe said the crop situation was good although some crops in low lying areas were affected by incessant rains.
“This season is good for crop production. We are positive that we can get good yields. Crop situation differs from one province to another but the general comment is the situation is not really bad at the moment. Even pastures for livestock are also in good condition,” he said.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Trust president, Mrs Dephinah Nkomo, said the bulk of early planted crops were in good condition although in some areas water logging was presenting challenges to farmers.
Online Reporter