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Patrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
TRADITIONAL leaders in Matabeleland North province have commended the government for availing farming inputs under the Presidential farming inputs scheme early. Chiefs said the farming season was going on well as villagers were busy in the fields planting or weeding their crops. Chief Shana of Jambezi in Hwange District said his subjects received maize seed and sorghum in November last year.
He said as a result some of the crops planted early had already germinated.
“We’re very happy that we received the farming inputs in time. On top of that it’s raining and the villagers are busy right now,” he said.
Chief Nekatambe from Hwange said they received sorghum and millet well on time.
“Things are looking up, the people are busy in the fields, the rains are very generous this time around,” said the chief.
He said if the rains continue falling, he was optimistic that they were going to have a bumper harvest.
In Binga, Chief Siansali said the rains and the farming inputs were a blessing.
He said it was unfortunate that because of heavy rains, some of the crops had started to exhibit signs of leaching.
“People started planting last year after receiving the presidential farming inputs but there’s a need for top dressing fertiliser since a lot of plants are now showing signs of leaching because of heavy rains pounding us everyday non-stop,” he said.
Chief Siansali said the government had promised them fertiliser.
He said Lusulu and Kariyangwe areas had been cut off from Binga Centre following the damage to roads caused by the heavy rains.
“Lusulu and Kariyangwe are the economic hubs of Binga in as far as crop production is concerned and they’ve been cut off since the Binga-Lusulu via Kariyangwe road is in a bad state. It’s no longer passable,” he said.
The provincial agronomist, Dumisani Moyo, said the farming season was well on course.
He encouraged farmers to continue planting saying the season was looking good.
“The rains are falling and farmers are busy in the fields. To those who haven’t started, they should start planting but should plant early maturing seeds because planting medium and late maturing seeds will be risky,” Moyo said.
Online Reporter