The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) yesterday handed over 5 000 copies of the commercial maize production field guide to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement for use by extension officers.

Speaking at the official handover of the guide in Harare, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Davison Marapira said Government was happy that ZAS saw it wise to engage its partners, Seed Co and Artfarm, to put together a guide for farmers on commercial maize production.

“What makes this occasion even more gratifying is the realisation by private sectors that they are key partners in national development,” he said. “In any case, no private sector would prosper in an impoverished environment.

“By working with Government, particularly under the new dispensation which has prioritised economics as an anchor for a more developed Zimbabwe, we unlock incomes for everyone.”

ZAS president Mr Ngoni Kudenga said they aimed to provide information to farmers for them to increase productivity to at least five tonnes per hectare.

“It has become poignantly manifold that grower training and capacitation issues always, invariably, arise and are at the core of challenges faced in agriculture,” he said.

“With this guide, extension workers are now able to carry out some of their duties that include, transforming subsistence agriculture to semi-commercial and commercial, agricultural information dissemination and provision of advisory and extension services.” — Herald Reporter.