adminMr Dumezweni Sibanda, a sales representative at Pioneer Hi-Breed, said late distribution of seed maize contributed to poor harvests especially in Matabeleland Province.
“Last season, most farmers received planting seed well into the farming season as a result of late distribution and this was a cause for concern.
“Others resorted to asking for a cupful of assorted seed maize from neighbours not knowing on which soil the seed could do best and that also contributed to poor harvests,” he said.
Mr Sibanda said owing to that, they had decided to distribute seed early for the next farming season and urged farmers to take heed of the correct product positioning methods.
“As farmers, you should listen, look and learn. We encourage farmers to buy hybrid seeds that are recommended for specific farming areas.
“Correct product positioning is essential but due to lack of knowledge, most farmers, especially those from urban areas, lose out on better yields as a result of failure to properly position their seeds.
“Farmers tend to judge a seed by how big it looks yet its outcome is determined by where it is grown, how it is treated and taken care of,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said if a seed of maize is grown where it is recommended, farmers may be guaranteed of making up to $11 000 from a bag of seed that cost only $60.
In an interview, an extension officer from Agritex Miss Sifiso Musundire said she hoped farmers from Bulawayo could grow their own food.
“Our wish is that people from the region should be able to grow their own food rather than wait to buy food grown from other areas,” said Miss Musundire.
She said her organisation intended to engage relevant authorities so as to make sure that seed was distributed in time for the farming season.
“Our mission is to help one another and encourage urban farmers not to work as individuals. We also urge them to grow drought-resistant crops as they tend to do well in the region,” said Miss Musundire.
Mrs Julia Sikhuni, a farmer from Woodville in Bulawayo, said they would greatly appreciate the effort, as there were unscrupulous seed suppliers who usually took advantage of them.
“If seed is supplied on time, it can save us money and time as there are always unscrupulous suppliers who take advantage of farmers’ desperation to sell them sub-standard seed,” said Mrs Sikhuni.
Online Reporter