The hectarage for the summer cropping season has increased significantly for major crops and growers have since started planting, with rains coming earlier this year than last year.
Speaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere highlighted the areas already planted.
“Maize has 95 593ha compared to 33 119ha at the same time in the previous season; soyabeans 1 415ha compared to 677ha at the same time of the previous season; sorghum 2 570ha against 756ha the previous season; cotton 518ha and tobacco 53 571ha versus 38 312ha at the same time of the previous season,” he said. Stocks of summer grains at GMB on Sunday stood at 555 504 tonnes comprising 477 059 tonnes of maize and 78 445 tonnes of traditional grains.
Dr Muswere said using the monthly consumption rate of 49 294 tonnes, the available grain will last for 11,3 months, with the next harvest coming in well before stocks were exhausted, showing that the country remained food secure.
Wheat stocks are now at over eight months supply, with the harvest still coming in and being delivered.
“Wheat stocks at GMB stand at 174 072 tonnes, and this will provide 8,2 months’ cover at a consumption rate of 21 000 tonnes per month,” Minister Muswere said.
“The cumulative harvested area of the 2022 winter wheat crop stands at 72 663ha, translating to 92 percent of the planted area. The total production now stands at 326 166 tonnes of wheat, at an average yield of 4,4 tonnes per hectare.”
Zimbabwe’s rainfall was still in the category of normal to above-normal despite the reduced rainfall experienced during the past week.
Dr Muswere said most areas across the country had received rainfall expected at this time of the year.
He said inputs distribution, registration and training on Pfumvudza/Intwasa were in progress with distribution continuing to be done according to agro-ecological zone requirements.
“Cabinet highlights that 82 percent (58 958 tonnes) of the received basal fertiliser has been distributed across the provinces, while 69 percent (14 297 tonnes) of the received top dressing fertiliser have been distributed. Planting has commenced in many areas,” Minister Muswere said.
Under the National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS), Minister Muswere said both Agricultural Finance Corporation and CBZ Bank were registering farmers with inputs being availed.
“CBZ is targeting to support a total of 170 000ha, 150 000ha under maize and 20 000ha under soyabeans, while AFC is targeting at total of 65 000ha with 55 000ha under maize, 5 000ha under soyabeans, 2 000ha under traditional grains and 3 000ha under sunflower,” he said.
Regarding livestock, Minister Muswere said a total of 291 750 chickens and 3 158 goats have been distributed under the Presidential Rural Poultry and Goat schemes.
Borehole drilling continues in its relentless way, with a total of 435 boreholes have been drilled under the Borehole Drilling Programme across the country, up from the 368 boreholes reported on November 15 just two weeks ago.
This comes to more than four being completed each day, seven days a week, on average. – The Herald
