GOVERNMENT TO PUT 2 000ha UNDER WINTER MAIZE
From George Maponga in Masvingo
Government has targeted to put 2 000 hectares under irrigation for winter maize production in Chiredzi in an effort to mitigate the effects of a prolonged dry spell during the agriculture season, a Cabinet minister has said.
The growing of the winter maize in Chiredzi will be under the direct supervision of the Masvingo provincial leadership with an expected yield of 30 000 tonnes.
Discussions between the provincial leadership and the sugarcane giants Triangle and Hippo Valley, are scheduled to start soon.
In an interview, Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Stan Mudenge said the winter maize project in the Lowveld would be revived this year in light of expected grain shortages.
“The main reason for reviving the winter maize project is to try and mitigate the effects of the predicted grain shortages and we think that the winter maize project will go a long way in reducing the effects of the dry spell.
“We expect to produce about 30 000 tonnes of winter maize and we will soon engage sugarcane companies on the modalities for the project,” he said.
He said the province has learnt from previous experiences that the project, if properly implemented, could cushion the province from food shortages.
Several parts of Zimbabwe, including Masvingo, are expected to experience food shortages due to a prolonged mid-summer dry spell.
A Government-led First Crop and livestock Assessment programme released this week indicates that 11 percent of the maize crop is a complete write off because of the dry spell. The winter maize project was initially tried in 2002 following two successive years of droughts in the province.