adminThose spoken to on Wednesday last week said the maize crops in areas like Cross Zenka in Nkayi South, Gwelutshena, Gwamayaya, Gampinya and Zidulini in Nkayi North were already at knee level.
“We have already planted and our maize crop is promising. People started early because rains started early as well. If it continues raining like this we will be smiling throughout,” said a farmer, Mr Isaiah Nyoni from Chief Sikobokobo.
He said their fortunes, as farmers, were rooted in President Mugabe’s Input Scheme where they benefited in time.
“We would like to thank President Mugabe for the seeds and other inputs. The maize is at knee level and our prayer is that it continues raining,” said Mr Nyoni.
It rained around Ward Six and Seven on Wednesday afternoon last week and it was all smiles for the villagers, who braved an occasion hiding under tents.
Ward Six Councillor Dennis Ndlovu said the rains received so far were promising.
“People are hungry owing to last season’s erratic rains, but the current rains have brought some hope,” he said.
Nkayi is also one of the country’s producers of cotton and farmers commended the Government for taking over pricing of the crop, which they said had in the past years left them at the mercy of buyers, who bought their produce for a song.
However, indications are that production of cotton would decline this season, as many farmers were disgruntled with the low producer price.
Price disputes between merchants and farmers marred the 2012 marketing season with merchants offering an average of 35c per kg while farmers demanded 75c per kg.
An estimated 250 000 smallholder farmers produce 99 percent of Zimbabwe’s cotton crop mainly through contract farming schemes with cotton ginning companies.
The farmers in Nkayi said they pinned their hopes on the Government to honour its promise.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter