The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THE curtain came down on the planting window for all crops in Manicaland, with farmers being called upon to now focus their energy on good agricultural practices that are crucial in promoting crop growth and goog yields.
While weather impacts the planting window each year, other factors such as moisture quantity and soil temperature are arguably the most significant two factors for planting windows.
Agriculture Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS) director for Manicaland, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa said the late planting of maize may cause an array of physiological and biochemical changes in plants which can affect growth and development, leading to a drastic reduction in yields.
Maize growth and development involves numerous biochemical reactions which are sensitive to variances in weather and may affect traits like silking interval, photosynthesis, physiological maturity and dry matter production from region to region.
Mrs Rwambiwa said managing production risks under high rainfall variability remains an issue, and conservation agriculture is being promoted to improve farmers’ resilience to climate variability and change.
“The extended planting deadline ended on Wednesday, and our farmers should now focus on agronomic practices. The integrated set of recommended crop management practices include fertilisation, weeding, pest and disease control, irrigation, and harvest.
“The goal is to maximise crop yields, while minimising damage to the environment and ensuring the sustainability of the system. Planting beyond the deadline can result in lower yields. This is because early rains can compromise yields.
”It will not be meaningful as the crops may not reach maturity, thereby increasing losses to the farmer,” she said.
With agriculture deeply dependent on weather, regional weather and climate, experts this seasons predicted an El Niño phenomenon that increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, and could resultantly trigger negative impacts such as dry spells and droughts.
Mrs Rwambiwa said in warming climates, where the crop-growing season is short and quick, an increase in temperature at the end of the season is unfavourable for crop growth and development.
“The forecast informed us that the rains may end mid-March, and it is against that background that the planting window curtains came down on January 10. Those who defy this advice and continue planting will be doing so at their own peril,” she said.
Mrs Rwambiwa said as at January 9, Manicaland had surpassed 80 percent of the set planting targets for major crops.
“We are now in the process of compiling statistics to gauge how far we have fared in as far as our set planting targets are concerned crop by crop.
“When we reported 80 percent on Monday, some farmers had planted, but had not updated. Some have planted in the last three days, so we are in the process of compiling the statistics,” she said.
Manicaland had targeted to put 285 000ha under maize, 100 000ha under traditional grains and 27 000ha under tobacco.
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, donkeys, rabbits and poultry, among others. Mrs Rwambiwa said the crop condition ranges from fair to good, depending with the agro-ecological region.
“Generally, the crop condition in Manicaland is fair to good. The crop stage is mainly vegetative because planting started on December 15.
“The condition of the tobacco crop is good, and we remain hopeful that the rains will come this week as predicted to maintain the good condition of crops in the province,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union executive secretary, Mr Paul Zakariya has urged farmers to rely on reputable sources of weather information for them to make timeous and accurate farming decisions.
Mr Zakariya said the 2023/24 farming season has been predicted to be a lean season characterised by the El Nino effect and encouraged farmers to use farming techniques that protect their crops.
He also encouraged farmers to look for long term drought solutions.
“This season was predicted to be influenced by El Nino, hence our farmers are supposed to adhere to good agricultural practices that are water-saving in nature.
“We should take conservation farming methods seriously and ensure that when we plant, we are actually planting recommended ultra-short varieties.
“Going into the future, we encourage our farmers to invest in irrigation because it is definitely the way to go.
“We also need to invest in water harvesting techniques, water storage, and water conserving irrigation,” said Mr Zakariya.
Delayed and highly variable rainfall, cost and availability of agricultural inputs, lack of draught power and labour are some of the key constraints facing small-holder farmers in Manicaland.
