Slow start to summer cropping preps

PREPARATIONS for the 2018-19 summer cropping season got off to a sluggish start in Manicaland as only a few farmers have started land preparations, an official has said.

Manicaland provincial agronomist Mr Thomas Sakuhuni yesterday said only a few farmers had started preparations, while others were yet to start harvesting their winter  crop.

“Most farmers in the province still have the winter crop in their fields, with some still in the process of harvesting,” he said. “This has caused delays in land preparation for the 2018-2019 summer cropping season.”

Mr Sakuhuni said lack of resources and equipment had also disrupted land preparations in some areas.

“Some farmers are still in the process of acquiring inputs and resources required for harvesting their winter crop as well as those needed for land preparations. This has caused a sluggish start to land preparations in the province,” he said.

Mr Sakuhuni urged farmers to prepare early as this had an impact on the quality and quantity of their yields.

“However, I urge farmers to start putting their houses in order now and prepare for the forthcoming season,” he said. “They should get assistance from Agritex officers on how they can best conduct soil sampling. Soil sampling will help them get the true soil status of their fields for better   yields.”

Seed Co Manicaland sales agronomist Mr Robson Musimudziwa said the province had adequate seed stocks for the summer cropping season and deliveries of more seed were in progress.

“We have quite enough seed in stock to distribute throughout the seven districts of the province. Chipinge district has already received their first batch of maize seed and currently we are delivering long- season and medium-season varieties seed to Nyanga and Mutasa districts,” he said.

Meanwhile, tobacco yields in Manicaland increased by 15,4 percent in the just ended season, thanks to an 8,3 percent rise in the hectarage put under the crop, an official has revealed.

Manicaland provincial agricultural extension officer Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa said the rise in the 2017-18 season’s tobacco yields was a direct result of the increase in hectarage from that planted in 2016-17 season.

Statistics compiled by Agritex show that tobacco yields have increased from 40 626 kilogrammes in the 2016-2017 season to 46 864 kilogrammes in the 2017-2018 season while an 8,3 percent increase in hectarage put under tobacco was recorded this year, which saw area planted rising from 19 346ha to 21 302ha.

Mrs Rwambiwa told The Herald that it was critical for farmers to maintain that momentum or even exceed   it.

“In order to achieve good yields I urge all tobacco farmers to adhere to good agricultural practices,” she said.

She also strongly urged tobacco farmers to stop cutting down indigenous trees and establish their own plantations for tobacco curing because deforestation had a negative impact on the environment, which also fuelled climate change.

“Tobacco farmers should have their own woodlots for tobacco curing and stop cutting down trees because deforestation has a negative impact on the environment,” she said.

“They must either own their plantations or use coal for curing tobacco.”

Mrs Rwambiwa said there was a dead period for tobacco stalking, which must be observed by tobacco farmers.

“We were expecting tobacco farmers to have destroyed tobacco stalks by May 15 and establish their seedbeds by June 1 with removing grading sheds expected to be done by October 31 and seed beds destroyed by December 31 of each year,” she                                                       said.

“Tobacco farmers should help each other to abide by this calendar because some farmers were left behind hence they should police themselves to avoid the potato virus, which leads to low yields.

“However, for now the bottom line is tobacco is increasing which is a good sign.”