adminWinter is upon us and people are taking all necessary precautions to keep warm. Farmers also have to ensure that their crops do not get affected by ground frost.
Traditionally, the winter season has been largely reserved for wheat production.
However, farmers need to consider winter maize production to ensure national food security.
Currently, very few farmers produce the yellow maize variety during winter.
The nation requires between 1,6 million and 1,8 million metric tonnes of maize per year.
Unfortunately, the El-Nino phenomenon seriously crippled production such that the country has been importing the grain.
According to the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU), it costs about $982,82 to produce about three-and-half tonnes of maize from a hectare.
This can be a pull factor for more farmers to take up winter maize production as other crops such as wheat require close to $3 000 per hectare to produce four tonnes.
According to agricultural experts, winter maize should be planted mid-July.
The crop is expected to mature after about four months.
“The nation needs a few dedicated farmers to meet the national target,” said Mr Zakariya, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union executive director.
Mr Zakariya encourged farmers to embrace irrigation to boost winter maize production.
Zambia adopted winter maize farming in 2002 to avoid importing grain.
Online Reporter