By Savious Madanhire
The recent widespread rainfall activity across the Midlands province, including Gweru, Gokwe, and Zvishavane, has significantly improved crop conditions, particularly maize therefore raising hopes of a successful 2024/2025 summer cropping season.
In line with weather forecasts, the country received normal to below-normal rains in the October-November-December period, which resulted in some crops experiencing moisture stress.
However, the latest rains have brought relief to most parts of the country.
The Meteorological Services Department projects normal to above-normal rains that will be experienced up to March.
Significant rainfall was recorded in the past 36 hours, with Binga realizing 130 millimeters (mm), followed by Matopos (35mm), Kadoma (33mm), Plumtree (32mm), and Gokwe (30mm).
Gweru recorded 21mm and Chibero 26mm, while both Zvishavane and Kezi received 19mm.
A few areas reported rainfall amounts below 15mm hence all districts have received significant amounts of rain.
This has improved the condition of the early-planted crops those planted in October or November.
Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services acting chief director Leonard Munamati emphasized that, “Farmers must wind up planting because we are already behind time, the crop under irrigation is good, and the crop where Pfumvudza principles were religiously followed, with good mulching and timeous weeding, is looking good.
The Government, which targets to produce over 3.2 million tonnes of cereals to ensure national food security, has been capacitating extension services staff and ensuring early distribution of inputs.
Meanwhile, initiatives such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa and the National Enhanced Agriculture Productivity Scheme, as well as interventions by the private sector and the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, will significantly boost crop production this season.
Movement of inputs (seed and fertiliser) from suppliers to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and towards has improved, with 64 percent of the targeted basal dressing fertiliser and 120 percent of the initially targeted maize seed having been delivered to various GMB depots.
At the same time, the Government has extended the deadline for tobacco seedbed destruction from December 31 to January 15, 2025.
This is meant to allow planting by farmers involved in rain-fed dry land tobacco production.
The authorities have been emphasizing that farmers must adopt good agronomic practices to maximize yields, including planting seed varieties that are specific to their agro-ecological regions.
They also underscored the importance of continuous pest scouting, particularly for the fall armyworm, and timely top dressing for maturing crops.
For good yields, farmers should stick to short-season varieties in Natural Regions One and Two, where a crop’s maturity can be reached in less than 120 days. In Natural Regions Three, Four, and Five, farmers had to plant short-season traditional grain crops that mature early and are drought-resistant.
Early scouting for the fall armyworm is key to ensuring no grain is lost in the field. Farmers in Natural Regions One and Two were encouraged to work on more maize plots and two plots of sunflower, sorghum, pearl millet, groundnuts, African peas, or sugar beans.