Zaka farmers urged to grow small grains

Sydney Mubaiwa in ZAKA
Smallholder farmers here have been implored to grow early maturity drought-tolerant crop varieties to improve their yields and boost food security as the country braces for low rainfall in the 2018-19 agricultural season.

Zimbabwe is set to receive normal to below normal rainfall in the coming agricultural season amid fears of an El Nino phenomenon that normally precipitates droughts in Southern Africa.

Addressing farmers and exhibitors at the official opening of the Zaka District Agricultural Show on Friday last week, SeedCo’s regional sales agronomist Mr Robson Musimudziwa said smallholder farmers in the drought-prone area should focus on drought-tolerant crop varieties to enhance their chances of good yields.

“Smallholder farmers here, especially those who practice dry land farming are urged to grow early maturity crop varieties and drought-tolerant small grains like millet, rapoko and sorghum,” he said.

“These varieties are already available on the market and they increase chances of farmers recording high yields even if the country receives low rainfall.”

Mr Musimudziwa said the Meteorological Services Department has already warned of the likelihood of an El Nino phenomenon that would affect the rainfall pattern in the 2018/ 19 agricultural season.

“We are calling on farmers to adapt and alleviate effects of climate change. We are also advising our farmers to work closely with their field extension officers and seed suppliers so that they buy the appropriate seed type that can tolerate dry spells.”

He advised farmers with big pieces of land to develop irrigation systems on their plots and venture into production of fodder crops for livestock supplementary feed.

“Farmers with capacity to start irrigation should try to grow small grains and fodder crops so that they do not lose their livestock in the event of prolonged dry spells,” said Mr Musimudziwa.

He urged farmers to take advantage of the first rains to plant.

“Last year, most of our farmers failed to meet their targeted hectarage because they planted very late and their crops were affected by the mid-season prolonged dry spell experienced around December and January.”

Zaka district falls in natural region 4 and receives low rainfall, which averages between 500 and 600 mm annually.