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Zimbabwe: Give Farmers Adequate Fertilizer
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
10 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Harare
For the first time in many years, preparations for winter wheat cropping had begun well in various parts of the country with farmers expressing optimism that given adequate resources, they could produce better yields compared to last year.
While some farmers have received seed and diesel for the winter wheat, the shortage of compound D and top dressing fertilizers remains a cause for concern to most farmers.
In the absence of these inputs, our farmers won't be able to meet this year's targeted hectarage of 70 000.
Of concern to the farmers, according to Mr Edward Raradza, Zimbabwe Farmers' Union vice president, is the unavailability of combine harvesters for summer crops such as maize and soya that are still in some fields.
This has seriously affected land preparations as farmers resort to manual labour.
It is disturbing that we have learnt little from past experiences where the country has been found wanting when it comes to planning and preparation for winter wheat production.
What the ZFU vice president said points to a bleak outlook, which necessitates an expensive grain importation at a time when the country is grappling with shortage of foreign currency.
Water, tillage and irrigation equipment are in abundance.
But why can't farmers have the necessary fertilizers? There is no doubt that the shortage of these inputs stems from dismal planning and preparation.
The farmers should not have been talking about lack of fertilizers.
These inputs should have been well stocked in January.
Another problem is that while the Government has over the past years provided farmers with heavily subsidised inputs such as diesel and fertilizer to stimulate production, these have sadly been the subject of abuse by some farmers.
These unscrupulous farmers have diverted the diesel and fertilizers meant for winter wheat to the parallel market for selfish gain.
As we have stated in the past, there should be a mechanism in place to plug all loopholes and make sure that all the inputs are put to productive use.
As we are in the winter cropping season, we urge all winter wheat farmers to use, apart from fertilizers, lime for soil improvement if they are to get the best yields this coming season.
Most soils could have lost fertility due to continuous tilling of the same pieces of land every season.
Prior to the land reform programme, some white former commercial farmers had land in abundance.
As a result, they had the opportunity to leave some land lying fallow.
This was done to keep the soils fertile.
Now that most of our farmers are sharing land, a lot of them have no choice but to till the same piece of land every season.
There is, therefore, need to improve on the fertility of the soil by the use of lime.
Adequate knowledge on the crop would help spur increase in yields, so it is critical that farmers consult Agricultural Research and Technical Extension officers for advice.
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While Zimbabwe requires more than 400 000 tonnes of wheat to meet its annual consumption requirements, the country has the capacity to produce 420 000 tonnes.
The Government has already done its part by providing farmers with tillage equipment.
We, therefore, urge all players that have a claim in agriculture to join hands and work together by readily providing farmers with the necessary fertilizers.
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