IT is every farmer’s hope that as they toil hard on the farms come the harvesting and marketing season, they reap the full benefits of their hard work.
Time is of essence in agriculture so any farmer hoping to get maximum yields of good quality and in turn good returns they have to follow the correct production procedures.
As the country waits for the coming of the rains, there is work to be done by the farmers to ensure that when the rains come they are fully prepared to start planting.
This season the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned that the country is likely to receive normal to below normal rainfall.
The MSD has urged Government to prioritise cloud seeding and urged farmers with irrigation facilities to utilise them than focusing on dry land farming and to practise conservation farming.
Armed with this information, farmers should be making the right preparations for the season to ensure that they are not caught wanting when the rains come.
Agronomist Ivan Craig said in light of the news from MSD, as farmers prepare, they should use seed varieties and fertilisers that are suitable for their regions to maximise on yields.
Farmers, he said, must plant small grains, short-season varieties and stagger planting to spread the risk.
“The country has five natural regions with different rainfall patterns hence it is key for farmers to know in which region their farm is located,” he said.
“Those in high yield potential regions should use medium-to-long seed varieties and a higher application rate for fertiliser should be used.
“Those in medium yield potential regions should use short-to-medium seed varieties while those in low yield potential areas are encouraged to grow drought-tolerant crops such as millet and sorghum.”
Farmers in low yield potential areas opting to grow maize should use ultra early to very early maize seed varieties.
When the rains eventually come, Craig urged farmers not to panic, but to start planting.
“It is important that farmers keep records of the amount of rainfall received in their area from when the rains start as this helps them determine whether they should start planting,” he said.
The average amount of rainfall that facilitates germination for maize is 22 millimetres (mm) and 30 mm for soya beans.
In the absence of a rain gauge to measure rainfall levels, Craig said farmers must use approved practical ways of testing.
“There are methods farmers can use such as hand-moulding soil taken from the fields, when the farmer opens their hand and the soil ball remains intact it means rainfall is adequate,” he said.
“If the ball does not hold together it means the water is inadequate and this method applies to sandy and heavy soils.
“Another method which is the least recommended is for the farmer to after the rains check if the water flows off the ground.
“This method requires someone who is well versed in the soils of the area as water flowing off the ground may be as a result that the soils have been hardened by the heat and the water does not sink.”
Craig said having ensured that adequate water has been received; farmers should not waste time, but start planting.
“A good farmer is expected to have finished land preparation and ready to plant as once the planting season starts a day lost, results in the loss of 50 kilogramme (kg) of maize per hectare of the expected yield,” he said.
“Late planting negatively affects the expected yield hence we encourage farmers not to fall behind the farming calendar.
“Particular attention should be paid on the planting process if the farmer wants to maximise on production.
“Those with large farms are encouraged to plant using a planter as it cuts on labour costs.
“Small-scale farmers can use the traditional methods of planting with hands, however, it is important they apply fertiliser first, cover with soil and then put the seed last and cover with soil.
“By so doing, when the seed germinates its roots will be near the fertiliser and it promotes growth unlike when the fertiliser is placed on top of the seed.”
Craig said plant population per hectare should be higher in high yield potential regions and should be reduced in low yield potential regions.
As the country waits for the rains and hopes for improved yields it is hoped farmers would adhere to the correct production procedures.