By Shingirirai Mutonho

FARMERS have been urged to prioritise food crops as they start planting the 2013/2014 season crops to ensure the country has enough grain to meet annual requirements and not resort to importing.
Most farmers have begun planting following the rains received in most parts of the country since last week.
The past seasons have witnessed farmers migrating from food crops mainly maize to growing tobacco which has proved to earn high returns.
Zimbabwe requires about two million metric tonnes of grain to meet its yearly requirements and has been failing to produce enough.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Wonder Chabikwa said there was need for farmers who have begun planting to prioritise food crops.
“Indeed in most parts of the country farmers have started planting and as a union we strongly urge farmers to grow food crops,” said Chabikwa.
“Farmers should be patriotic and help secure food security.
“We realise that farmers want to grow cash crops, but it is important that they do not forget to produce grain so that we avoid the problems we have had in the past of shortages and having to import.”
Chabikwa said farmers should also grow small grains that are drought resistant.
“Farmers are yet to realise that small grains have a ready market and they can make money from growing small grains,” he said.
“We are trying to lobby for the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to also consider buying small grains from the farmers.”
Prospects of meeting the targets for grain production have however remained bleak, despite the continued efforts by resettled farmers to improve a sector which was once a fortress for white commercial farmers.
Issues of inadequate funding and changing rainfall patterns have negatively affected not only the 2012/2013 cropping season, but past seasons as well.
Last year the country received rains late November yet farmers had begun to plant crops early October in anticipation of early rains.
The country then witnessed a dry spell which stretched from January to early February.
The agriculture sector was allocated US$148 million from the 2013 national budget which fell far below the US$800 million that had been requested by the sector.
The GMB has in the past marketing seasons been running battles with farmers over the payment of grain delivered to its depots.
The impasse followed decision by Treasury not to avail funds to the entity.
The then Finance minister, Biti, said Government would not fund the GMB for the purchase of maize.
The move dampened the zeal of farmers to grow grain with most moving to tobacco.
Chabikwa said the union was confident Government will this season support the GMB.
“We are optimistic that the new Government will turn things around and ensure farmers are paid in time by GMB,” he said.
It is not only communal farmers that are busy in the fields, but also urban dwellers that are into urban farming.
Urban agriculture can be defined shortly as the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities.
Crops that are mainly produced by urban farmers include maize, sweet potatoes, and ground and round nuts.
Chabikwa urged farmers to grow crops that are suitable for their region.
“Farmers should know the regions where they are and know which crops thrive there to maximise on production,” said Chabikwa.
“Those in drier regions should grow small grains and if they so want to grow maize they should settle for very short season seed varieties.”
During the 2012/2013 season total hectarage planted for major food crops declined to 1,4 million hectares down from 1,9 million hectares planted during the 2012/2011 season.
The Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Ministry attributed the decline to issues of inadequate funding, high costs of production and failure by farmers to access advanced machinery.
Chabikwa said this season, financial support had been provided by both Government and the private sector.
“There are a number of contract schemes available and it is important that those that can access them do so,” he said.
For the forthcoming season, Government has provided US$161 million through input support.
The scheme is expected to benefit 1,6 million households, mainly communal, old resettlement, small-scale and A1 farmers.
The Bankers Association of Zimbabwe is injecting US$620 million, with CBZ chipping in with US$100 million.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will pump in US$19, 25 million that is expected to assist more than 77 000 small holder farmers.
The agricultural sector is struggling to rebound, having registered a modest 4,6 percent growth in 2012.
It is, however, projected to grow by 6,4 percent in 2013.
As farmers remain optimistic about the season it is hoped they will continue to receive adequate support.
President Mugabe was first in line to offer invaluable support to farmers through the Presidential Well Wishers Special Agricultural Inputs Scheme.
The scheme benefitted over 800 000 households countrywide.