Farmers here have stepped up preparations for the 2019-2020 agricultural season as the province seeks to surpass previous production levels and maintain its dominance in agricultural production.

According to a crop and livestock assessment report released recently, Mashonaland West Province led in maize production with 228 073 tonnes in the 2018-2019 season.

The output was, however, 51 percent lower than what was achieved in the 2017-2018 agricultural season.

In an interview yesterday, Mashonaland West provincial agronomist Mrs Siyeba Makaza said preparations for the forthcoming season were in progress.

“Preparations are going on, and according to the weather forecast, this season is going to be better than the previous season. We are expecting normal to above rains first three months of the season,” she said.

Mrs Makaza said Agritex was conducting pre-planning meetings across the province while working with various stakeholders, including scheduled visits to farmers to ensure better yields.

She said farmers were also enthusiastically preparing for the season ahead, although economic challenges continue to hamper progress.

“Farmers are doing their best, but considering the economic environment. Inputs are very expensive for farmers and they are waiting for Government programmes such as the Command Agriculture and Presidential Input Support Scheme programmes.

“Command Agriculture is available and is now being run in conjunction with banks such as CBZ. As Agritex, we are only doing the registration, verification and contracting.”

Farmers’ contracts are sent to the banks, who would issue out input vouchers.

Mrs Makaza said Agritex has already started the registration, verification and contracting processes.

“We are, however, giving first priority to farmers with irrigation facilities, and I would want to urge farmers to sign contracts with other private contractors on crops such as soya beans,” she said.

She called on farmers to also grow small grains which are drought tolerant for food and nutrition security at household level.

“We are encouraging each and every farmer to at least reserve some space for small grains,” she said.

Mashonaland West Province last season planted 297 360 hectares of maize, with Mashonaland Central producing the second largest yield of 159 184 tonnes, while Mashonaland East was third with 153 831 tonnes.

The Midlands was expected to harvest 93 703 tonnes, Masvingo (60 962), Matabeleland South (16 781 tonnes), Matabeleland North (13 031 tonnes) and Manicaland (51 070 tonnes).

The estimated overall maize output is 776 635 tonnes, representing a 54 percent decline from the 1 700 702 tonnes obtained in the 2017/2018 season due to erratic rains.

At least 1 623 757 hectares were put under maize in the 2018/2019 season, down from 1 722 718 in the earlier season.

Midlands had the largest hectarage under maize at 333 118.