Agriculture experts have advised farmers to now speed up planting of short season varieties and late season crops for them to realise optimum harvests and to apply top dressing fertiliser in small amounts more frequently.
Former Zimbabwe National Farmers Union vice president Mr Edward Dune urged farmers to plant late season crops such as sunflower, cowpeas and sugar beans.
He said farmers should also speed up planting but should now, at this point in the season, go for short season varieties of maize, cotton and sorghum. Seasonal crops such as sugar beans, sweet potatoes and sunflower had better returns and most farmers were earning a living by growing those crops.
“We are encouraging farmers to go for shorter season varieties of crops. They have to wrap up planting now and speed it up to catch up with the time. Farmers are also encouraged to grow crops which are late season crops like sugar beans sunflower and cowpeas,” he said
Mr Dune also advised farmers to follow good agronomic practises to enhance productivity.
For medium and long term varieties, supplementary irrigation may be needed for the crops.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers’ Trust president, Mrs Depinah Nkomo said short season varieties are crucial to plant this time so that they will catch up with time.
She said it was also crucial for farmers to speed up planting before the Christmas holiday ends.
The progress shown so far in planting is positive adding that if rainfall persists we are assured of a good harvest week.
“I urge farmers to speed up planting but short season varieties are ideal at the moment. If the rains improve, l do not commend farmers to put fertilisers if there is no enough moisture .
Farmers need to speed up planting so that they use the rains they received. I recommend farmers to also plant sunflowers which can be planted into the late season,” she said.
Many farmers have started planting and those who have already benefited from good falls since the onset of November have been advised to speed up planting.
The rains have seen an increase in planting across the country, especially those taking part under Pfumvudza/Intwasa that had already taken advantage of the early rains to start planting. – The Herald
