The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND’S summer planting window has opened as heavy rains this week pounded some agro-ecologies where farmers are being advised to start planting once the groundwater and soil temperature can sustain germination.
Summer crops — which include maize, sunflower, soybeans, groundnut, beans and traditional grains — are the bulk of staple foods and serve as inputs to a myriad of agricultural and manufacturing processes.
Simultaneously, Government has slashed irrigation water charges by 31 percent to motivate farmers to increase the maize hectarage under irrigation to combat food insecurity that may arise from the El Nino phenomenon.
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development this week announced the opening of the planting window on its X (formerly twitter) handle as Manicaland started experiencing localised rains accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms.
Usually water scarcity and unreliable weather conditions force smallholder farmers to plant maize outside the optimum planting timeframe despite the start date of the season being crucial in determining sowing times, planting criteria and selection of adaptable varieties in different agro-ecologies.
“Maize Planting Season 2023-2024 is Now! Rains predicted for October 30 onwards,” announced the ministry.
Agriculture Minister, Dr Anxious John Masuka also announced the new Water Pricing Model that slashed the cost of a mega-litre of irrigation water from $16.41 to $11.36, making it easier for farmers to increase their hectarage of irrigated crops, especially maize, to combat food insecurity.
Maize is a strategic crop and improving its production through irrigation and good agricultural practices, especially in irrigation schemes, will reduce food insecurity in light of the El Nino phenomenon that was predicated by the Meteorological Services Department (MSD).
Government is climate proofing agriculture at two levels — at household level through the intensive conservation technique of Pfumvudza/Intwasa and dam construction.
Minister Masuka extended the deadline for preparation of Pfumvudza holes from October 31 to November 15 to allow farmers to take advantage of the rains to expedite their plot preparations so that no one is left behind.
Manicaland has 485 000 beneficiaries who will benefit under the programme this year, with each getting a full basket of agro-region specific inputs to avoid the temptation of growing crops in regions they will not thrive.
Three plots will be for cereals, while the other two are for oil crops.
“By intervening, it means we will motivate more farmers to commit more area under irrigation for cereals, specifically for maize, so that the country can produce maize by identifying more hectarage which is about 80 000 hectares to date and the identification process is continuing.
“If we are to focus on that and improve on Pfumvudza, whether we have normal or abnormal rains, we will be able to produce sufficient to meet our requirements which is 2,2 million tonnes for both human and animal consumption,” he said.
The current price for raw water is US$16.41 a mega-litre (5 000 drums) comprising the ZINWA tariff of US$14.35, plus US$1 sub catchment levy and US$1.06 water fund levy.
The new rates will see the ZINWA tariff being cut by 25 percent from $14.35 to $10.76 when irrigating maize, with the removal of the $1.06 water levy and the cut in the catchment levy to 50c, bringing the total cost of a mega-litre of irrigation water down from $16.41 to $11.36.
A post-paid arrangement for water payable at the time of grain delivery to GMB in 2024 will be instituted charged in indicative US dollars but payable in Zimbabwe dollars.
Since 1999, poor rainy seasons are occurring every two to three years, and under the current trajectory, fears abound that the El Nino may expose millions to drought, hence the proactive intervention by Government to boost irrigation.
Agriculture Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS)’s Manicaland provincial director, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa said farmers should plant after receiving at least 25mm in five days.
“We are urging farmers to concentrate on land preparations so that they can plant with the early beneficial rains of above 25mm. Those with irrigation have already started planting and we are urge them to work with their extension officers on good agricultural practices and effective fertilisation of crops,” she said.
Mrs Rwambiwa said in light of the envisaged impact of the El Niño phenomenon, farmers should grow drought-tolerant and early maturing crop varieties, use of organic fertiliser and mulch to increase retention of soil moisture.
“Given the role of smallholder farmers in eradicating hunger and improving food security, they need to adapt to climate shocks, and one such way is by growing right crop varieties that suite their regions, optimising planting dates and exploring techniques like ‘more crop per drop’ to increase maize production and also focus on mulching to conserve water and control weeds.
“Farmers should plant short season and drought tolerant varieties to maximise on the moisture content and make sure that the crop benefits from the little rain that will fall,” she said.
Mrs Rwambiwa said for farmers to become self-reliant, an understanding of meteorological processes is vital, and agriculture extension officers will be key in getting the crucial services and information across.
Grain Marketing Board (GMB) chief executive officer, Dr Edison Badarai said they are seized with the distribution of the 2023/24 Pfumvudza inputs throughout the country.
