Utilise early rains, farmers urged
FARMERS have been urged to take advantage of the first rains to intensify planting of summer crops because early planting ensures high yields.
In an interview, Agriseeds sales and marketing director and agronomist Mr Ivan Craig said farmers should utilise the first rains and practise water conserving methods to sustain moisture.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a weather forecast released recently by the Meteorological Services Department, which will see normal to above normal rains in the first half and normal to below average rains in the second half.
“It is very important for the farmer to prepare for the season in a way that will harness as much rain as possible in the first half, and then utilise it in the second half to complement the one which is not going to be high so that crops will not suffer from moisture stress,” said Mr Craig.
“Those who suffered severely from cattle loss which they used for ploughing, I would like to say it’s a blessing in disguise since they are going to apply methods like minimum tillage as it is advisable.”
Mr Craig said farmers should understand their ecological regions, as this would help them in plant population which suited their regions. “Region 3 requires 36 000 plants per hectare because if you are in a high potential area, you should play around with high plant population, and those in marginal area, it is probably 26 000 per hectare because the few the plants per hectare the less moisture and nutrients uptake, which means moisture will be readily available,” said Mr Craig.