The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga, Senior Farming Reporter
THE Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) is leading the Command Agriculture initiative with the majority of its estates that have been cropped under the programme expected to yield an average of 10 tonnes per hectare.
The parastatal is back on track after it partnered a number of private players to revive its estates across the country in the past few years. The agro-industrial company has 22 estates across the country measuring a total of 98 000 hectares.
Most of the estates especially those with irrigation facilities were used to promote the Command Agriculture.
A visit to one of the estates, Arda Maphisa where part of the crop is under Command Agriculture showed that the early planted crop was now tasseling while the late planted one is at vegetative stage.
According to the estate manager Mr Alec Chinyai, 480 hectares is under Command Agriculture, with total production target at 4 800 tonnes of maize grain.
“We are expecting to start harvesting at the end of March. We also have an additional 51 hectares under irrigated pasture. We are generally happy with the quality of the crop and we expect a bumper harvest. The Command Agriculture project has been successful,” said Mr Chinyai.
Official statistics show that 479 000 hectares have been put under maize under Command Agriculture, surpassing a Government target of 400 000 hectares.
In an interview, Arda chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza revealed that the summer crop was in excellent condition with the estates starting on a good irrigation programme and now finishing on a good rainfall programme. He said they were anticipating a good harvest on all their farms, something that will improve the country’s food security and spur the growth of other industries.
“The outcome is that there is increased offtake with a number of sectors set to benefit from the project. Industries like seed, fertiliser and chemicals as well as packaging and fuel and transport sectors are all going to benefit from the success of Command Agriculture,” he said.
Mr Nyabadza said Arda was opening up additional land to increase hectarage that will be put under wheat in winter.
“The inclusion of wheat, soya beans and small grains to the project will be beneficial and as an authority we are already bracing for this by opening up additional land at our estates for the coming winter season.
We hope that with the feedback from farmers, the next phase of the Command Agriculture project will double up with a better planning position for Government,” he said.
Mr Nyabadza said it was also important to include livestock in the project.
Recently in his overview of the season, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made said:
“The targeted Command Agriculture scheme has taken shape across the country, with most crops nearing knee level. The Government has provided farmers with the required seeds, basal fertilizer and herbicides. We have engaged the central bank to make sure that top dressing fertiliser comes in time before the majority of farmers require them.”
