Farmers urged to take heed of agro-ecological guidelines

Fairness Moyana in Hwange

GOVERNMENT has urged farmers to take heed of agro-ecological factors in their planting activities to ensure maximum food production across the country.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, who recently conducted a tour of a model Pfumvudza plot owned by Mr Wisdom Bushe Neshavi in Lubangwe under Matetsi ward, said aligning cropping patterns with ecological guidelines was critical in boosting national food security.

“We are on a countrywide tour and today we are in Matabeleland North where we are looking at the impact of the recent rains on the crop conditions. Specifically here in Hwange Region 5 we have seen in the background a spectacular sorghum crop, which is why we say there should be agro-ecological tailoring,” he said.

“What is grown by the farmer must be determined by the exigencies of the agro-ecological zone, which is why here this thriving sorghum crop is a testament to that.”

Dr Masuka expressed satisfaction at the state of the crops in the province arguing that production targets had been remarkably surpassed.

“I hope that it can be replicated across the district and across the province. In terms of the target, Mat North has done extremely well by doubling the target for their sorghum production, which is what we want to see,” he said.

“With this stellar performance, we can be assured of food security at household level and also at provincial level. What we are witnessing here shows the timely planting and observance of all the Intwasa tenets coming from the Agritex capacitation. Clearly this farmer has understood that concept that we need to conserve moisture.”

Dr Masuka said valuable lessons had been drawn from growing crops suitable to the agro-ecological zone arguing that the exercise was being complemented by the Presidential Rural Development Programme, which was responsible for formation of Village Business Units (VBUs), which aims to economically empower communities.

These units are established around boreholes drilled by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and are equipped with solar-powered pumps, tanks and drip irrigation systems.

Heaping praises on Neshavi’s lush sorghum and maize crop, the minister said this was already a commercial enterprise judging by the size of his plots, which stood at 40, a development that Dr Masuka said has equipped rural farmers to be viable businesses.

Updating farmers on the production targets, provincial agriculture director, Mr Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu, said the province had surpassed its set targets in most of the crops cultivated this year.

He, however, expressed concern on the low hectarage planted for pearl millet, sunflower and soya beans arguing that Government was looking into the reasons to address the challenges.

Mr Ndlovu said most crops in the province have reached early reproductive, vegetative and emergence stages, with a few farmers still planting. The ministry is currently carrying out a crop and livestock assessment with ZimStat to ascertain actual area planted in the province.

From the analysis carried out, Mr Ndlovu said disease related deaths would be addressed by the Department of Veterinary Services while the poverty deaths had more to do with the farmer and the business advisor to ensure that biomass was harvested and saved for livestock.

The province also experienced a high number of calving with the ministry already working on trying to ascertain on the number of calves born against the deaths.

Neshavi who is also the vice chairperson for Zanu-PF District Co-ordinating Committee said he was inspired by President Mnangagwa’s Pricabe farm into working on replicating it on his 6ha farm.

“I expect to harvest about 10 tonnes of sorghum and over a tonne of maize. We have encountered

challenges with the army worm and locusts but we have tried to spray to counter loss,” he said.

“We also face the challenge of human-wildlife conflict due to our proximity to the national park boundary and in the coming weeks elephants are going to be invading fields. We are, however, hopeful that collaborations with Zimparks will ensure that our produce is not eaten by elephants.”

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