Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT has commenced preparations for the 2024/25 summer cropping season amid predictions of improved rainfall in the coming season with more cereals expected to be produced to ensure the country achieves national food sufficiency.
Zimbabwe and the entire Southern Africa are emerging from an El Nino weather pattern characterised by low rainfalls, which crippled harvesting for many farmers.
La-Nina weather conditions characterised by improved rainfalls have been predicted for the coming season and Government is using the weather prediction to plan for summer cropping.
Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka presented the report on the issue before Cabinet yesterday before it was adopted.
He said the 2024/2025 summer plan is the implementation mechanism for the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (AFSRTS).
“The plan comes on the backdrop of an El Nino-ravaged 2023/2024 summer season and prediction of better rainfall, given the increasing probability for a La-Nina phenomenon in the 2024/2025 summer season,” he told journalists during a post-Cabinet briefing.
“The 2024/2025 summer season production plan focuses on food and feed crops, oilseeds and industrial crops, for both local consumption and export,” said Dr Muswere.
He said the country is planning for improved cereal production in the coming season after a disastrous 2023/2024 season that left millions of people food insecure.
“The target is to increase production of cereals from about 750 000 metric tonnes produced during the 2023/2024 summer season to over 3,2 million metric tonnes. The area under cereals is also expected to increase from about 2,3 million hectares during the 2023/2024 summer season to 2,5 million hectares,” said Dr Muswere.
“Maize production is expected to increase from about 635 000 metric tonnes in 2023/2024 summer season to 2,7 million metric tonnes. The average maize yield is also expected to increase from 0,8 metric tonnes per hectare in 2023/2024 summer season to 1,5 metric tonnes per hectare.”
He said traditional grains yield is expected to increase from an average of 180kg per hectare during the 2023/2024 summer season to 800kg hectare.
Dr Muswere said the 2024/2025 summer plan also targets to produce 97 700 mega litres of oil, from cotton, sunflower and soya bean.
He said Climate-Proofed Presidential Input Support Scheme (Pfumvudza/Intwasa) is expected to benefit at least 3,5 million households from communal, A1, small-scale commercial farming, old resettlement and peri-rural households for the production of cereals, oilseeds and legumes.
“The distribution of inputs under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme will strictly target households that would have prepared a minimum of three plots each measuring 39m by 16m (0.0624 hectares); liming and organic matter placement; and mulch collection for at least one plot,” he said.
Dr Muswere said the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) will be the sole buyer for the crops financed under the Presidential Input Programme and the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) Scheme.
“Contractors may arrange to sell their crops to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB). All contractors are obliged to buy back their contracted crops at market prices. Self-financed farmers will sell to best advantage on the market or to the Grain Marketing Board,” said Dr Muswere.
He said the Government is in the process of establishing five fingerling production centres across the country to produce 60 percent of the fingerling requirement for the Presidential Community Fisheries Programme.
Dr Muswere said Government expects a cut crossing growth of the agriculture sector in the coming sector.
“In respect of livestock value-chain development, the target for the 2024/2025 summer plan is to increase the beef cattle herd from 5 718 523 in 2023/2024 to 5 798 582. Goat numbers would increase from 5 087 155 in 2023/2024 to 5 239 769.
“Milk production is also expected to increase from 99 821 752 litres in 2023/2024 to 115 000 000 litres,” said Dr Muswere.
Meanwhile, Cabinet also adopted the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) 2024 Rural Livelihoods Assessment Report as presented by Dr Masuka on behalf of Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who is the chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Food Security and Nutrition.
“The 2024 Rural Livelihoods Assessment established that the total cereal requirements from the National Strategic Grain Reserve for the period July 2024 to March 2025 would be 448 350 metric tonnes, broken down as follows; 45 750 metric tonnes per month for July to September 2024; and 51 850 metric tonnes per month for October 2024 to March 2025,” said Dr Muswere.
“The food insecure people will receive 7,5kg/person/month for the period July to September 2024 and 8,5kg/person/month from October 2024 to March 2025.”
He said the report noted that 121 482.6 metric tonnes will be required for the school feeding programme from July 2024 to April 2025.
Dr Muswere said the Government will avail the requisite quantities for the school feeding programme and will prioritise payment of Basic Education Assistance Module.
“ZimLAC commended Government for remaining committed to ensuring that every Zimbabwean is free from hunger and all forms of malnutrition through food deficit mitigation and food security resilience building measures, as well as strengthening of multi-sectoral structure,” said Dr Muswere. —@nqotshili
Online Reporter