Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
The summer cropping season starting in the next few months is set for a major rebound after stakeholders yesterday said all that was needed for success, including the necessary inputs, was already in place. Fertiliser and seed suppliers said they had enough stocks and ready to import in the event of a deficit. Government, on the other hand, is making efforts to pay farmers for grain delivered to GMB depots to enable them to buy inputs and prepare in time.

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will assist at least 300 000 households with inputs, while smallholder farmers will get tillage facilities through the District Development Fund.

Fertiliser industry spokesperson Mr Misheck Kachere yesterday said the industry had already carried out annual maintenance of plants at Dorowa, Sables, ZFC and Zimphos.

“We have supplied about 100 000 tonnes of fertiliser so far to the market and we have 35 000 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate and 25 000 tonnes of compound fertilisers in stock,” he said.

“We plan to produce 280 000 tonnes of compounds and 60 000 tonnes of AN. We have already put plans to import 120 000 tonnes of AN since there is going to be a shortfall. Sables is operating at 45 percent capacity, with other plants running at 80 percent.”

Mr Kachere said the industry had established a working capital of $120 million, which he said was enough to produce fertiliser for the forthcoming season.

The country needs 300 000 tonnes of both AN and Compund D for a successful season.

Zimbabwe Seed Traders’ Association chairman Mr Walter Chigodora said the seed industry was ready and had more than 30 000 tonnes of seed maize in stock.

“Seed production was affected by the floods and drought last season,” he said. “The situation was made worse by farmers who sold the seed as commercial maize. If there is need we will import seed from our sister companies.”

At least 53 000 tonnes of seed maize are needed for the season.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made yesterday said Government would assist farmers in all sectors with mechanisation and irrigation equipment for all crops.

He said under the programme, farmers would be able to hire tractors for tillage services.

Dr Made said Cabinet had taken a position to pay farmers who delivered their grain to the GMB to enable them to start preparing for the season.

“Progress has been made by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to enable farmers to finance themselves,” he said.

“This relates to the cutting down of electricity charges and lowering of interest charges. This will make inputs cheaper.”

Dr Made said some farmers had irrigation equipment, but it was critical that tariffs of electricity go down.

“Some farmers are already planting maize and potatoes and soon tobacco, cotton and seed maize farmers will also start planting,” he said. “Treasury has also budgeted for cloud seeding in case we do not have enough rains.”

Dr Made said the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development would support 300 000 vulnerable households with inputs worth $28 million.

“The ministry is already making provision for 15 000 tonnes of Compound D and 15 000 tonnes of AN for this,” he said. “Large-scale farmers now depend on borrowing from banks and these will be assisted by lowering interest rates. Most farmers will be mobilising their own resources.

Dr Made said the major challenge was the department of irrigation which needed to be strengthened in case the rains were inadequate.

“This is the reason why we are speeding up the More Food for Africa Programme to install irrigation equipment,” he said. “Farmers should prepare land adequately depending on the availability of moisture. We have instructed engineers to be on the ground.”

Dr Made said emphasis for early planting was being put on provinces that usually received good rainfall like Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, parts of Midlands, Matabeleland North and parts of Matabeleland South and northern parts of Manicaland.

He said his ministry was taking advantage of programmes with Brazil, India, Belarus, China and Egypt who had senior officials in irrigation and experts in the country working with farmers.

On livestock production, Dr Made said focus would be on harvesting of grass, drilling of boreholes spearheaded by the DDF.