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Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
THE country has adequate seed stocks to meet demand in the forthcoming 2023/24 cropping season for both state-assisted programmes and the commercial sector, with farmers urged to buy early and avoid the last minute rush.
Zimbabwe Seed Trade Association chairman Mr John Makoni confirmed that the country was seed self-sufficient adding that the seed industry was on course to substitute imports although there are still shortages for hybrid sunflower, hybrid sorghum and groundnuts.
“The seed industry grew in the 2022/23 season to meet the projections that were set by the Government in line with the projected hectarages for various crops.
“We have enough seed for next season even though we may need to import hybrid sunflower, sorghum and groundnuts. The rest are open pollinated varieties, which are locally available,” he said.
The Government is targeting cereal production of 3 775 72 tonnes – with maize accounting for 3 060 000 tonnes and 715 728 tonnes of traditional grains, which is enough human cereal consumption requirements, as well as industrial use and livestock feeds.
This will guarantee national food and nutrition security, as well as adequate household nourishment with some left overs for sale.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development’s report on the country’s state of preparedness for the 2023/24 season unequivocally indicated that this year focus was on increased productivity with the target areas for the major crops meant to grow 10 percent.
The report also indicates that there will be enough seed for traditional grains and legumes for the new season.
“The increase in seed production has been a result of policy decisions to expand the production of traditional grains, as a way of climate proofing Zimbabwe’s agriculture.
“The promotion of the traditional grains and different pulses is being done to promote diversification of diets for nutritional security,” said the Ministry.
Seed houses will, however, import some seed to cover shortages for different crops.
The report indicates that about 45 000 tonnes of seed is required to cover 1,8 million hectares of maize targeted for the next season.
About 4 180 tonnes of seed is required to cover 418 000 hectares of sorghum, while 275 000 hectares of pearl millet require 1 600 tonnes of seed with 27 500 hectares of finger millet needing 138 tonnes of seed.
Farmers have, however, expressed concern over input prices that they say are pushing the cost of production high eroding their potential profits in the process.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust president Mrs Depinah Nkomo said they were geared to start the new season adding that the state assisted programmes were helping the majority of farmers to acquire inputs.
“Acquiring seed on time is very crucial. The majority of farmers rely on the Presidential Input Scheme so we are appealing to seed companies to lower their prices so that we increase hectarages. The cost of production needs to be factored into the fixing of the selling prices of products so that we also earn realise profits,” she said.
Government’s focus is to increase productivity, which has seen the 2023/24 targets for major crops being increased by 10 percent in line with the Ministry’s thrust to increase production per unit area, rather than drastically expand the cultivated area.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZFCU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe said farmers were ready for the next season adding that they should improve on the production of traditional grains.
“Let’s do better on traditional grains. Farmers should view farming as a business. High input costs were affecting farmers for the past years but we appeal for Government intervention to ensure the cost remains affordable to majority of farmers,” he said.
Over the period 1980 to 2022 the country has been recording very low yields of sorghum and sunflower at an average of 0,39 and 0,40 tonnes per hectare respectively.
Online Reporter