Crop condition is generally good, with a bumper harvest expected, although some early crops in light and clay soils are likely to be affected by the near continuous rains that the country has been receiving, with some plants already showing signs of yellowing and rotting due to water logging, agricultural experts have said.
According to the experts, cereal crops are the most affected as nutrients are being lost through leaching.
Former Zimbabwe National Farmers Union (ZNFU) vice president Mr Edward Dune said crops that were planted in November last year, classified as early crops, needed to be top dressed in small quantities to avoid the loss of nutrients which can be caused by excessive rains.
Mr Dune said not all areas had this problem as it depended on soil type.
“Crops planted on light soils tend to suffer from leaching when there are incessant rains as we have been experiencing of late. The best solution for farmers is to start applying top dressing in small quantities,” said Mr Dune.
He said crops in sandy soils had begun yellowing due to water logging and nitrogen deficiency.
Farmers with early-planted maize are complaining of lodging (crops falling down) and this may lead to rotting if the wet conditions persist.
“We have started seeing damage to crops in certain areas due to the incessant rains especially in areas where farmers did not apply manure or Compound D at planting.
“There is a need for urgent top dressing and it is unfortunate that many farmers do not have that fertiliser,” said Mr Dune.
“The other challenge facing farmers caused by the heavy rains was weed management especially on heavier textured soils where the farmers are failing to go into the fields to weed.
“In cases where farmers try to use herbicides, the challenge remains as it is raining daily and the chemical is being washed away.”
Mr Dune said despite all other factors this summer season is promising to be one of the best with the country receiving the best rains. He said a bumper harvest is anticipated as the rains are covering all the farming regions and there is a conducive environment for a high yield crop.
“On the ground, all those farmers who managed to plant their crops and have kept them weed-free are going to have a high yield. We are confident that with the current situation, a bumper harvest is to be expected this season,” he said.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe said the crop situation is good adding that those in low lying areas are the ones affected in terms of excessive rainfall.
“This year is a good year for crops. We are positive that we can get good yield.
“Crop situation differs from one province to another but the general comment is the situation is not really bad at the moment. Even pastures for livestock are also in good condition,” he said.
This season farmers have planted 1,9 million hectares of maize, marking a 40 percent jump from the 1,5 million hectares planted last year.
Government has initiated public and private sector engagements to ensure its projections of a harvest of at least 3 million tonnes of maize for the present season from a target hectarage of 1 940 969ha are realised.
Mashonaland West has planted 485 421ha of maize compared to 273 064ha last year exceeding their target hectarage of 360 000ha followed by Midlands which has a total hectarage of 300 708ha compared to 275 799ha last year and Manicaland planted 285 879ha compared to 253 681ha last year by the same time.
Statistics also show that 34 000ha were put under soyabeans compared to 23 188ha last year, while 320 031ha were put under sorghum compared to 216 741ha last year. About 169 348ha of pearl millet was so far planted compared to 116 087ha last year, 56 215ha was put under sunflower compared to 8 507ha, as that crop sees the most dramatic production growth, and 300 114ha of cotton was put compared to 166 902ha planted last year. – The Herald
