Brighton Gumbo Business Reporter
FARMERS in frost prone areas have started planting winter potatoes to curb the risk associated with frost on the crop’s output.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) executive director, Paul Zakariya said farmers in the Lowveld had started planting the crop.

He said those in other parts of the country would begin planting potatoes at the end of the month.

“The winter season is slowly coming to an end and the second winter crop season is about to start in Matabeleland, the Midlands and parts of Mashonaland which are prone to frost since frost now has little chances of attacking the potato crop,” Zakariya said.

He said farmers were expecting the crop to be more viable this season as it was in high demand and fetched a favourable price on the market.

“We’re expecting to get more profits from this year’s harvest since potatoes have high yields in a short space of time (about three to four months after planting) and it’s a well known fact that potato farming has a high return on capital invested,” Zakariya said.

He said the major challenge facing farmers was lack of funding to buy inputs and pay for irrigation water.

“We appeal to the government for funding to help in the production process. Farmers lack financing to buy expensive inputs and to pay for the water and other relevant inputs required to boost output,” Zakariya said.

He said potatoes require constant moisture, light and a frost free environment and thus irrigation is critical especially when tubers start to form.