Farmers urged to grow vegetables

FARMERS in Manicaland have been urged to venture into vegetable production to improve local supplies and increase their source of income.

Seed Co Zimbabwe has been hosting field days across the province with the aim of assisting the farmers with ideas on sustainable market gardening.

Seed Co provincial sales agronomist Mr Clemence Mucharedzeyi said the company was encouraging farmers to enhance vegetable gardening, as well as giving them knowledge on how to produce vegetables.

“We are saying every farmer should grow vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers and rape,” he said.
“By this time of the year many farmers should be venturing into vegetable gardening and not to wait for the next season while the land lies idle.

“This will increase the supply of vegetables such as tomatoes that are on demand in the market.
‘‘Farmers in frost-free areas should take tomatoes production seriously because supply is very low on the market and those in frost-prone areas should grow cabbages and onions.”

Mr Muredzeyi said some vegetables could be a grown all year round and advised people in Chimanimani who live near water sources to resuscitate their vegetable gardens.

“We are advising people in Chimanimani in areas that have not been totally devastated to resuscitate vegetable production so that the supply of vegetables increases,” he said.

“Some farmers have already planted wheat, but we cannot rely on starch only, they should also find a small piece of land to do vegetable gardening.”

Mr Muredzeyi said vegetables could be affected by fungal diseases and pests.
“Vegetable gardens help in improving household consumption, food security and source of income,” he said.
“We encourage farmers to do routine spraying to safeguard their crops from bacterial disease and pests so that they attain better yields.”