Crop hectarage diminishes
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/
Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:11
Paul Nyakazeya
PRELIMINARY assessments by the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) show that the
area planted for major crops diminished this agricultural season owing to a
poor start to the season and inadequate inputs.
Without giving the hectarage, ZFU said in its weekly market guide the area
planted for major crops such as maize, wheat and soya bean had diminished
this year compared to the previous year.
“The area planted to major crops has been reduced compared to last year
because of the poor start to the season and inadequate inputs,” said ZFU.
According to Agricultural Extension Services (Agritex), Zimbabwe planted 247
000 hectares of maize from November to January, down from 379 993 hectares
in the same period last year because of late rains.
Farmers planted 130 944 hectares of sorghum and other small grains, compared
with 136 131 hectares, Agritex said.
Cotton planting also decreased from last season. A total of 45 000 hectares
were planted compared to 107 727 hectares last season. “The early planted
cotton is at ball formation but was mostly affected by poor germination and
lack of seed for replanting. Some of the crop in the Zambezi Valley has just
been planted and is at germination stage. The crop condition is ranging from
fair to good,” said ZFU.
Farmers planted soybeans on 5,079 hectares compared to 13 674 hectares, and
tobacco on 39 393 hectares compared to 43 545 hectares to last season.
ZFU said maize crops vary from tasselling stage, with some farmers in the
Zambezi Valley said to be planting.
“The condition of the crops is generally fair, with signs of nitrogen
deficiency in some crops. Those farmers who are still planting are being
discouraged from doing so but are advised to try short season crops like
sugar beans,” ZFU said.
ZFU said early irrigated tobacco crop was being reaped while the dry or late
planted crop was still at vegetative stage.
In response to problems associated with high demand for tobacco packaging
materials and their non-proximity to the farmer, ZFU said in agreement with
Propak, it was now selling materials from its provincial and district
offices.
According to the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board, preparations for this
year’s tobacco season, which starts on February 16, are almost complete at
the four floors licensed to handle tobacco sales this year.
The floors include Tobacco Sales Floor, Boka Tobacco Auction Floors,
Millennium Tobacco Floors and a new player, Premier Tobacco Auction Floors.
The farmers’ union noted that the current farming season was characterised
by late, poorly distributed rainfall. It said the first rains where very
patchy and ineffective, affecting the germination of the early crops, giving
a false start to most farmers who had to come up with gap-filling or totally
replanting the failed crops.
“The prolonged dry spell (following planting) then affected the crop which
suffered from temporary wilting because of intense heat. The latest rainfall
has come as a relief to most areas,” said ZFU adding that said in some areas
it had not been as heavy and widespread.
Farmers hoped the wet spell would continue.