Winter wheat cropping preparations begin

PREPARATIONS for the winter wheat cropping season have begun in the Midlands Province, with Government distributing inputs to farmers registered under the Command Wheat Programme.

Midlands Provincial Crop and Livestock officer Mrs Madeliner Magwenzi said they are distributing fuel, seeds, fertiliser and chemicals to farmers in a bid to meet the provincial target of 2 500 hectares.

“We are now focusing on the distribution of inputs to our winter wheat farmers,” she said. “Government has availed fuel, fertiliser, chemicals and seeds in time for the planting season. “The distribution exercise is being done concurrently with farmer training on effective ways to improve productivity. We are targeting 2 500 hectares and encouraging farmers to plant early.” Mrs Magwenzi said they were targeting large commercial farmers and those with irrigation facilities in areas such as Gweru, Kwekwe and Shurugwi to improve their tonnage per hectare.

“Increasing capacity for our farmers is imperative as we now have to do away with importing wheat all the time,” she said. “We are targeting to give maximum support to farmers with irrigation facilities so that we continue to boost yields.” Mrs Magwenzi said Government was not contracting farmers who have not cleared their debts from last season adding that the deadline for winter wheat planting is May 15.

Turning to the summer cropping season, Mrs Magwenzi said the province has been severely affected by a long dry spell coupled and an influx of the fall army worm resulting in limited productivity.

“We have had a poor season and our latest crop assessment report indicates that districts such as Gokwe and Mberengwa are dire and require urgent food aid while all the other districts experienced very low productivity.,” she said. “Poor rainfall activity coupled with fall army worm outbreaks were the major setbacks. We have already submitted our crop assessment report to the minister and full details will be unveiled soon.”