Farmers called upon to practise dry planting

07 Dec, 2014 - 00:12 0 Views
Farmers called upon to practise dry planting

The Sunday News

farmingLungile Tshuma Farming Correspondent
FARMERS have been urged to practise dry planting in preparation for this year’s season so as to cope with the farming season amid revelations that most farmers were yet to till their land. The call was made by farmers unions who said that there was a possibility that when the rain begins to fall, farmers would not have the opportunity to till the land, as rains could be continuous.

In an interview with Sunday Business, Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) Matabeleland North provincial chairman Mr Winstone Babbage said most farmers had not yet started tilling the land.

“Most farmers in the province who depend on rain fed agriculture are yet to till their land. The Meteorological Services Department told us, as farmers that we are going to receive normal rainfall just like last year. It is important for farmers not to wait for the rain, rather they should practise dry planting,” said Mr Babbage.

Mr Babbage urged farmers to make use of the education on best farming practices in the region that they did.

In a separate interview, Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) vice-president, Mr Abdul Nyathi, reiterated the views raised by Mr Babbage. He said dry farming was ideal adding that the country might receive rainfall any time.

“Farmers should go for dry planting so that they cope with this year’s farming season. They should not wait long because there is a possibility that they might even fail to beat their target.

“As farmers, like everyone else we aim to improve from our yield. More so, we are committed to restoring the country’s status as the bread basket of southern Africa. If they plant their crops too late it will certainly lead to lower potential yields,” said Mr Nyathi.

Mr Nyathi urged farmers to heed advice as wasted inputs and time is as good as wasted money because farming is a business.

“Dry planting or planting early ensures that seeds germinate properly and helps to maximize the use of water,” he said.

During the 2012 farming season, Zimbabwe recorded a 17 percent drop in maize production to 799 000 tonnes from 900 000 tonnes. The national annual maize requirement for the country is 1,2 million tonnes.

Last year, the country received normal rainfall and recorded an increase in maize production from 785 000 tonnes to above 1,4 million tonnes.

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