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Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter
FARMERS have expressed concern that Government’s efforts of realising 200 million tonnes of maize for the 2016/17 summer cropping season under its Command Agriculture Programme is now under threat due to a myriad of challenges.
Leaders of farmers’ unions interviewed by Sunday Business last week said the Command Agriculture Programme under which the Government aims to produce 200 million tonnes from 400 000 hectares was under threat from “self-induced” challenges and natural catastrophes.
The programme’s success is at risk due to the shortage of fertilisers as well as the occurrence of natural phenomena such as hailstorms, erratic rains and outbreak of devastating pests.
Last month there was an outbreak of a worm that attacked cereal plants especially maize, sorghum and sugarcane from three-leaf stage and the central leaves show typical bullet-like holes and they leave behind horse manure-like droppings called frass on the leaves particularly the central whorl.
First reported by farmers in Matabeleland region, the destructive pests spread to other areas like Glendale, Shamva, Chegutu, Kwekwe and Banket.
Two weeks ago farmers in Kwekwe and Masvingo had their maize crop destroyed by hailstorms.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said the Command Agriculture Programme was expected to go a long way towards improving food security.
“The Command Agriculture Programme is a very noble programme which was going to ensure that the nation produces 200 million tonnes of maize improving on food security and playing a pivotal part in reducing imports and empowering farmers to increase on capacity through full utilisation of arable land,” he said.
Mr Chabikwa, however, said the shortage of fertilisers was likely to hamper the Government’s agricultural scheme.
“Our local fertiliser manufacturing companies who had promised to produce adequate fertiliser to meet the country’s demand are failing at a critical moment and there is also a challenge of herbicides.
“Fertiliser is a major component that is likely to affect our target because for one to attain a good yield they should have adequate supplies of both Compound D and top dressing fertilisers so as to improve soil nutrients,” he said.
Mr Chabikwa said the outbreak of crop damaging pests can be controlled if adequate stocks of herbicides are availed.
“There is also the presence of worms which are also a natural phenomenon but with adequate stocks of herbicides we can get rid of them. There is also a need of knowledgeable eyes on the ground that’s why we have been advocating for (Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services) Agritex to be full resourced. Pests need to be scouted at least once a week and I know that not all farmers can do that but if extension officers are capacitated firstly in terms of mobility they can effectively do that,” he said.
Mr Chabikwa further stated that: “Of course there are natural catastrophes such as hailstorms. We, however, know from time immemorial that there are possibilities of such weather conditions that hamper farming and in most times there have affected the tobacco crop but now it has affected maize. We can’t do much about it but it won’t persist for a long time.”
He applauded the country’s seed houses for availing sufficient maize seed to farmers.
Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union president Abdul Nyathi said farmers should apply proper agronomy practices to guard against losses.
“The scheme has been mapped out but of course there is shortage of fertiliser here and there. It’s mainly because of shortage of some ingredients used in its production. We will, however, have to grapple with these tools which are at our disposal without dampening the spirit of the programme.
“The major issue is rain especially in the southern parts of the country. It’s no longer promising and is now erratic throughout the country. We had anticipated good rains as predicted by the Meteorological Department thus insufficient rains are likely to destabilise the total anticipated yields,” said Mr Nyathi.
@DNsingo
Online Reporter