John Murwira Mash West Correspondent
Farmers have been urged to start preparing for the next summer cropping season under the Command Agriculture Programme.

Addressing farmers attending Pioneer Hybrid Zimbabwe Panner 7M-81 field day at Hill Top Farm, Agritex officer for Ward 6 in Chinhoyi, Mrs Emily Wukama, urged the farmers not to wait for Government inputs.

“As farmers, we need to start preparing for the next farming season now while making sure that we have plans to buy some of our inputs,” she said.

The Agritex supervisor for the area, Mr John Rufurwokuda, said farmers should also consider participating in agricultural shows.

He said shows offer a platform to learn farming skills.

“Farmers should consider taking agricultural shows seriously and exhibiting your products is not only for competition’s sake, but a learning platform where you will interact with specialists so that you can improve your yields or products,” he said.

“You will also share ideas with those who would have won on how they managed it.

“Farmers should also visit agricultural extension officers in their areas to get show lists indicating products to exhibit, including charges.”

Pioneer Hybrid Zimbabwe sales agronomist Mr Billijon Matongo challenged farmers to follow procedures when farming.

“If you follow procedures, yields are achievable.

“Farmers should not cut corners while considering going for soil analysis as that will help in applying fertilisers and the seeds suitable for their areas,” he said.