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Precious Manomano, Harare Bureau
Farmers have now planted more than 370 000 hectares of maize countrywide marking a 263 percent increase from the 101 952ha that had been planted in the same period last year, with communal farmers leading the way.
This sets the tone for the realisation of a bumper harvest in 2023 assuming the country receives normal to above normal rainfall as predicted by weather experts.
Government has initiated public and private sector engagements to actualise its projections of three million tonnes of maize for the 2022/23 season from a target hectarage of 1 940 969ha.
The Second Republic has made food and nutrition security a top priority and is working towards attaining a US$8,2 billion agriculture industry by 2023, underpinned by the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) – the key driver towards the Vision 2030 objective of making Zimbabwe a prosperous and empowered upper-middle income society.
Government programmes such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa, the National Enhanced Agriculture Productivity Scheme (NEAPS) and interventions by the private sector and the Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), are set to enhance maize production this season.
In its weekly update, the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (formerly known as Agritex) indicated that the area under cotton had also increased to 18 037ha compared to 1 834ha in the same period last year.
Sunflower jumped from 430ha to 2 063ha, pearl millet from 7 277ha to 15 382ha, sorghum from 5 831ha to 23 986ha and soyabeans from 1 065 to 6 683ha.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust president Mrs Depinah Nkomo said there was huge progress in planting and farmers were busy planting different crops
She said they are anticipating a bumper harvest following the good rains that were predicted by the Meteorological Services Department adding that Government’s commitment to assist the majority of farmers with inputs is greatly appreciated.
“There is a positive development in planting. Farmers are busy planting different crops. We are expecting a good harvest. Monitoring of inputs is needed to ensure transparency. Farmers are doing well this season and the progress shown so far shows a brighter future in farming,” she said.
Former Zimbabwe National Farmers’ Union vice president Mr Edward Dune said distribution of inputs started on time, adding that a huge progress has been made by farmers in planting.
“We are happy that inputs got to the farmers early this year because the cost of inputs has skyrocketed and most farmers would not have managed to buy their own. However, we feel that Pfumvudza should cover a bigger hectarage than it already is to ensure sustainability and viability of maize production,” he said.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president, Mr Victor Mariranyika, said farmers should speed up planting since most areas have received enough rains to plant.
“The progress shown by farmers so far is a positive step towards achieving food security. This is greatly appreciated and we can foretell that the season is good and there is a possibility of a bumper harvest if farmers follow good agronomic practices in farming.
“We encourage farmers to do more and plant more hectares. We are an agro-based economy and we rely on agriculture to enhance food security in the country,” he said.
With the onset of the rains, Government has taken measures to speed up the distribution of inputs to farmers.
For this summer farming season, Government has released US$154,6m
Online Reporter