Vusumuzi Dube
Sunday News Reporter
A farmer at Galloch Farm in Ward 17, Umzingwane District in Matabeleland South province, Mr John Mabhungu has attributed the success of his maize project to Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) officers who have been impacting farming skills to him.
Mr Mabhungu hosted a field day at his farm last Thursday where there is a thriving maize crop at his 2,5 hectares of maize field.
The theme of the field day was “Variety selection and crop diversification as a climate smart practice.”
The variety selected by Mr Mabhungu was SC 555 from Seed-Co.
Mr Mabhungu, a retired senior police officer, said that as a new farmer he got assistance from Agritex officers from his ward who constantly came to monitor the progress of the crop as well as assisting farm workers in dealing with pests and diseases.
The guest of honour, Mr Bhekilizwe Ncube, the District Agricultural Extension Officer, praised Mr Mabhungu for his hard work and urged other farmers to follow suit.
“As farmers you have to utilise land that has been given to you so as to assist to improve food security in the country which is in line with the country’s vision 2030 of attaining an upper middle-class economy. Hunger should be reduced and eradicated at all costs,” he said.
Mr Wallace Banda from Seed-Co explained to farmers the importance of seed variety selection. He said a farmer must choose a seed variety suitable to their farm after considering the resources available.
derick.khumalo