The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT and the fertiliser industry have mobilised adequate stocks to boost crop yields and close the gap between actual and attainable yields through adequate use of fertilisers and efficient nutrient management to achieve food and nutrition security this cropping season.
Despite the late start of the 2023/24 season, it cannot be denied that planted crops will require adequate nutrition to meet production goals, making strategically added fertility essential to achieving national food security.
In order to meet the growing challenges of climate change, human health, population growth and resource pressure, our agricultural systems must be sustainable, and fertilisers are vital for achieving this as they provide crops with nutrients essential for their growth and health, resulting in increased yields and food production.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development’s Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri told The Manica Post on Wednesday that the country has adequate fertilisers for the current season.
Professor Jiri said Government is working closely with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to capacitate the local fertiliser manufacturing industry in a bid to achieve self-sufficiency, amid global supply chains disruptions as a result of the Russia and Ukraine war.
“We have all the fertilisers that we need. We need 300 000 metric tonnes, and we are secure on that,” said Professor Jiri.
Some sources in the fertiliser industry corroborated this, saying demand will be lower than the usual national demand of 350 000m/t due to the delayed rainy season and forecasted El Niño, which increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, and resultantly trigger negative impacts such as dry spells and droughts.
As Manicaland surpasses its Pfumvudza target by about 200 000 plots to 1 681 989 plots and an additional 25 000 hectare of maize under irrigation, demand for fertiliser, especially Ammonium Nitrate (AN) remains high.
About one million plots have been planted to date, as farmers have high expectations since Government has set a conducive environment for a successful cropping season through capacitation of extension services staff and early distribution of inputs to farmers.
Fertiliser Seed Group (FSG) spokesperson, Mr Ngoni Kandeya said they have enough fertiliser stocks.
“We planned adequately for the season, and our only challenge was the prolonged dry spell in light of the predicted El Nino phenomenon. We were fearing for a suppressed demand of fertilisers, and the onset of the rains is a positive step, and we are ready, geared and busy,” he said.
Mr Kandeya said the national demand will not exceed 350 000m/t.
“Because of the earlier indications of a depressed summer season, we noted that a number of farmers had not tilled their fields, scaled-down or simply acted cautiously. We now see them doing last minute rash to plant, but demand for fertilisers will not be as high as 350 000m/t.
“It will be much lesser, and adequate fertiliser is there on the market,” he said.
He said fertiliser price has been slashed to boost production.
“We are looking at an average of US$35x50kg compared to US$65x50kg last season. From our side, it is too early for farmers to cry about the unavailability of top-dressing fertiliser. What we should be talking of at this stage is whether we supplied adequate basal fertiliser or not,” he said, adding that FSG supplied 80 000m/t of basal fertiliser under the Pfumvudza Programme.
“That is 100 percent of the quantity we are mandated to supply, and we are done and actually scaling down because demand is now low as farmers have taken up their requirements.
“We have started distributing top-dressing fertiliser to all parts of the country. We are moving in full swing since the stocks are available, both in the country and at various ports of entry like Beira in Mozambique.
“Farmers should not cry. All that is required is to strengthen our logistics distribution capacity, which we are geared to do as usual.
“There will be no shortage of nitrogenous fertiliser in the country as we cater for public programmes funded by Government, tobacco contractors and private farmers not involved in these programmes,” he said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union Trust president, Mr Victor Mariranyika said demand for top-dressing fertiliser is soaring as consistent rains continue being received, thereby boosting prospects of a bumper cereal harvest in Manicaland.
Manicaland targets to have 285 000 hectares under maize and 100 000ha under traditional grains and as of last week, 30 percent of the crop was above knee height and required top dressing fertiliser.
Mr Mariranyika said fertiliser shortages at critical juncture of production will result in poor yields.
“This also reduces the estimated quantity at harvest. This a big loss considering input costs which remain high. High prices where the commodity is procured translates to high input cost and reduced marginal returns, i.e. the profit margin is drastically reduced. We encourage farmers to buy and stock fertilisers preseason as shortage can lead to food insecurity,” he said.
Maize is a crop of great importance in the country considering that it is the staple food.
Fertiliser is applied after 25 to 30 days of sowing.
The final top dressing is applied 20 to 25 days after the first application.
Maize also require to booster nitrogen during this growing period to give it the deep green colour in addition to increasing the plumpness of the grain.
Although maize yield is influenced by other factors like the number of plants and cobs per hectare, rows per cob, grains per row and ultimately the weight of the kernels, nitrogen plays a pivotal role in the grain filling process that results in heavier grain and ultimately increased yields.
Healthy soils and plants can better withstand climate stress than those with nutrient deficiencies, and by increasing crops’ resilience, fertiliser best management practice is vital for farmers to maximise their yields.
