The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THE Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has concluded its first crop and livestock assessment whose findings point to a better harvest when compared to last season.
It, however, emerged during the data collection exercise — from late January to mid-February 2023 — that the crop in the seven districts of Manicaland still require top-dressing fertiliser.
The bulk of the late planted crop was showing some nitrogen deficiencies due to late distribution of top dressing fertiliser and high costs of the commodity, which is forcing farmers to use it sparingly.
Major crops grown in Manicaland include maize, tobacco, traditional grains, horticultural crops, cotton, sunflowers, ground and round nuts, sugar and soya bean, sesame, cow peas and sweet potato.
Livestock include cattle, goats, sheep, donkey, rabbit and poultry, among others.
The assessment’s objective was to ascertain the area planted under major crops, determine the main factors that influenced production, and assess availability, accessibility, and usage of both crop and livestock production inputs.
It also seek to assess rainfall the seasons quality, grazing and livestock condition, water supply, disease prevalence and control,as well as overall prospects for the season (early warning).
Manicaland put 265 000 hectares under maize, with the majority of the crop under the Pfumvudza programme under which Government assisted 461 573 households with a full basket of inputs.
Provincial agronomist, Mr Ceaphas Mlambo said the bulk of the crop was in good condition, thereby putting Manicaland on course to surpass last season’s harvest.
“The crop is in good condition in the northern and eastern regions—Makoni, Mutare and Mutasa as well as Nyanga, upper Chimanimani and upper Chipinge.
“Manicaland will have a better harvest than last year. The early planted crop (November) is maturing, while the crop planted in December is at the early reproductive stage.
“The late planted crop (January) is at the vegetative stage.
“The crop is good although it was showing signs of nitrogen deficiency due to late distribution of top dressing fertiliser. Top dressing fertiliser is also expensive and beyond the reach of many, hence farmers used it sparingly,” he said.
Maize is top-dressed after 25 to 30 days of sowing, with the final top dressing application coming about 25 days after the first application to give it the deep green colour and increase the plumpness of the grain.
Nitrogen plays a pivotal role in the grain filling process that results in heavier grain and ultimately increased yield. It also helps in the establishment of healthy leaves.
FSG logistics, which is one of the companies mandated to supply fertiliser for Government programmes, through its logistics manager, Mr Ngoni Kandeya, said they have supplied 94 percent of the required input.
“On maize, we are currently at more than 94 percent in availing inputs for the Presidential programme.
“We target to finish by end of this week. Deliveries of top dressing fertiliser are in progress from both our Bindura factory and Beira.
“With regards to the Presidential Inputs Programmme (cotton), we are 93 percent complete and target to finish by end of this week as deliveries are in progress from both our Bindura factory and Beira.
“We have done 100 percent of the CBZ Agro-Yield (Command Agriculture),” said Mr Kandeya.
Mr Mlambo said the summer season was characterised by beneficial rains whose frequency, pattern and intensity was evenly distributed across Manicaland, with the exception of a few low lying regions, thereby boosting crops and pastures and increasing flows into major dams.
The crop condition was said to be fair in the southern region of the province which include Buhera, the lowveld of Mutare, Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
“When the first crop assessment was conducted, for example in Wards 26, 27 and 29 of Chipinge, the crop was moisture stressed,” he said.
The livestock condition in Manicaland was good following improvement in grazing pastures and availability of water in water bodies,as well as reduced disease prevalence.
Livestock body condition was good across all classes and all farming sectors.
Grazing availability was generally good across the province, save for the presence and increase of invasive species.
Theileriosis or January Disease mortalities have decreased due to increased regular dipping.
