Nation’s maize crop wilting, says ZFU
Saturday, 03 March 2012 18:58
BY OUR STAFF
THE Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) says the country’s entire maize crop is in
dire need of rain following the isolated and sporadic rainfall experienced
in some parts of the country.
In its weekly market guide, the ZFU said the condition of the maize crop
remained varied as most of the crops in good rainfall areas are doing well
while some in areas with poor rainfall are between temporary and permanent
wilting stages.
Most of it will not recover even if heavy rains were to fall.
“The early planted crop is now at soft to hard dough stages. The rest of it
is between late vegetative and pollination stages,” said the ZFU.
“Therefore, all the maize crops badly need rains.”
Agricultural experts say the sporadic rainfall pattern experienced in the
country has contributed to low levels of agricultural crop production over
the years, among a host of other factors.
Zimbabwe’s estimated annual maize consumption stands at three million metric
tonnes against annual production levels of 1,4 million metric tonnes last
year.
The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) notes that annual maize
production increased from 500 000 metric tonnes in 2008, 1,2 million metric
tonnes in 2009 and then 1,3 million metric tonnes in 2010.The agricultural
sector contributed 17% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product according to
the ZCFU.
The union noted that while some parts of Midlands and Mashonaland provinces,
received sporadic and isolated rains with hailstorm in some cases, other
areas continued to experience long dry spells.
Turning to tobacco, the ZFU said the irrigated crop is being graded and
delivered for sale to the auction floors with prices received being better
than the similar time period last season, as farmers deliver good tobacco.
“It is our hope that the good prices persist as the selling season
continues. The rest of the dry-land crop is at vegetative to reaping or
curing stages,” said the union.
“Some tobacco crops in the Banket area were hard hit by hailstorm with great
losses to the farmers.”
ZFU noted that the outlook looked good for cotton and farmers would be
expecting good harvests if rains persist.