Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
A local fertiliser company is working with the University of Zimbabwe to develop a map of the country’s soil types and conditions to assist farmers on fertilisers to apply to their crops.
The company, Nutrimaster’s managing director, Mr Graeme Barr, told the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce during its ongoing visit to fertiliser companies to assess their operations and challenges that it was important for farmers understand the soil type and conditions so that they apply correct fertilisers.
“The fertiliser itself needs to operate in a specific pH so that the plant’s root system can convert the fertiliser into soluble nutrients,” he said.
“So, without the correct pH most of the fertiliser is not being utilised. So the first stage is to take the soil samples and test the soil.
“We are working with the University of Zimbabwe to develop a map of Zimbabwe which indicates all of the soil conditions and types in Zimbabwe so that people generally understand what their soil types look like.”
pH stands for “Potential of Hydrogen” and is a scale from 0 to 14 that measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution by indicating the concentration of hydrogen ions.
A pH less than 7 is acidic, a pH greater than 7 is alkaline (or basic), and a pH of exactly 7 is neutral.
Mr Barr said it was important that farmers understand the pH levels of soil at their farms so that they apply the right types and quantities of fertiliser and maximise yields.
The committee is touring fertiliser companies and those in its value chain in an effort to boost local production of fertilisers.
The committee has since toured Zimbabwe Phosphates Industries and Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company, which both fall under Mutapa Investment Fund.
The collaboration is an example of partnerships being encouraged by the Government between educational institutions and industry players under the Education 5.0 curriculum.
