Staff Reporter

There is a decrease in the hectarage for crops planted during the 2021/2022 season due to erratic rains in the country, cabinet was told.

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka informed cabinet that the 2021/2022 Season was marked by a false start to the season in most areas of the country, followed by an unevenly distributed rainfall pattern both in space and time.

The Minister advised that the decrease in the hectarage for crops planted were as follows; tobacco 11 percent, sorghum 2 percent, pearl millet 25 percent, finger millet 40 percent and cotton 23 percent. He added that the area planted increased for the following crops; rice 97 percent, soya beans 34 percent and sunflower 69 percent. He went on to say that the bulk of the irrigated tobacco is ready for marketing, whilst the dry land crop is being harvested, cured and graded.

Minister Masuka informed that pertaining to horticulture, there was a general increase in the area under most of the perennial crops for the 2021/2022 season except for tea, which decreased by 20 percent. He further said that the area under emerging crops, such as blueberries increased by 15 percent from 238 hectares to 285 hectares and pecan nuts increased by 36 percent from 550 hectares to 748 hectares in the 2021/2022 season. Irish potato production increased by 9 percent.

National beef cattle herd is said to have recorded a marginal growth of 0.6 percent from 5 478 648 cattle in 2020 to 5 509 983 in 2021 and the cattle mortality rate declined from 11.1 percent in 2020 to 8.86 percent in 2021.

Dr Masuka advised the nation that the First Round Crop and Livestock Survey confirmed that climate change is upon us and affecting agricultural production. He assured the nation that every effort was being made to ensure that no Zimbabwean will die of hunger. This is in line with the Second Republic’s mantra of “Leaving no-one and no place behind.”

Meanwhile, Minister Masuka presented the State of Preparedness for the 2022 Winter Cereal Production.

He informed the nation that a total of 75 000 hectares has been targeted for wheat production during the 2022 winter cereal production season, compared to the 66 435 hectares planted in 2021.

Minister Masuka revealed that the hectarage which will be sponsored by CBZ Agro-Yield, AFC Land Bank and Private Sector contribution will bring total estimated production to 383 500 metric tonnes, against a national requirement of 360 000 metric tonnes, thereby ensuring that the country meets its domestic consumption needs.

Farmers were advised that the country has enough certified wheat seed, fertilisers and chemicals in stock for the 2022 winter cereal production season.

Minister Masuka said Government has put in place two mechanization programmes, namely; the Belarus and John Deere Farm Mechanisation Facilities in order to augment the existing tractor fleet and implements.

The nation was informed that Cabinet approved the pre-planting wheat floor producer prices of ZW$ 175 741.86 per metric tonne for ordinary grade at a 15 percent return on investment, and ZW$193 316.046 per metric tonne for premium grade wheat.