DEPRESSED yields were recorded in the agricultural sector during the last summer season with calls being made for those practising winter cropping to adhere to proper methods of farming for maximum production.
The 2015/2016 summer cropping did not bring much joy to farmers as they were hard-hit by the effects of El-Nino that not only affected Zimbabwe, but other countries in southern Africa.
Focus is now on the coming summer cropping season.
Government has called on those with access to irrigation facilities to produce crops which thrive in winter, especially horticulture produce.
Horticulture expert Luckmore Kupita told The Patriot this week that for maximum production, farmers have to use adequate inputs.
“A farmer’s yield and its quality determine whether he/she is going to break even or make a loss,” he said.
“For one to achieve maximum yield per hectare, one needs to have correct and adequate inputs.
“The seed, fertilisers and chemicals used have a bearing on the crop produced, so it is important for farmers to choose the best varieties and amounts.”
Before planting in winter, farmers should prepare the land, Kupita said.
“When preparing the land, crop residual trashes from the previous plants are ploughed underground and they will decompose, forming humus, thereby adding fertility and improving aeration,” he said.
“The decomposed trashes make nutritious feed for the worms underground which help in the restructuring of the soil.”
With wheat no longer the first winter crop of choice, farmers are producing crops such as onions, tomatoes, cabbages, lettuce and other leafy vegetables.
Kupita said farmers should take note of how to apply fertiliser and the amount required at any application.
Farmers can also use manure and animal waste as they have nutritional components that aid crop production, he said.
“Apply 30 to 50 tonnes of cow dung, decomposed farm manure or poultry excreta during ridging or bed preparation when growing cabbages,” Kupita said.
“Two weeks after planting, apply sulphate of ammonia at a rate of 80 to 100 kilogrammes (kg) per hectare (ha) and repeat at six weeks after planting.”
With tomatoes, Kupita urged farmers to apply 20 to 50 tonnes of cow dung; decomposed farm manure or poultry excreta two weeks before planting.
“It is advisable to apply basal compound four to seven days after planting at a rate of 1 000 to 1 500 kg per ha,” he said.
“At least 100 kg of ammonium nitrate is to be applied at first fruiting and when fruits are marble at three-week intervals.”
When producing lettuce, farmers are advised to apply decomposed manure; poultry excreta or cow dung at ridging or bed preparation stage.
“The standard fertiliser application programme is 500 to 800 kg of basal fertiliser per ha to be applied before planting and 200 kg per ha of limestone ammonium nitrate (LAN) to be applied as a side dressing two to five weeks after transplanting,” said Kupita.
Farmers producing butternuts require two to four kg of seed per ha.
“A farmer should have 400 to 600 kg of Compound D fertiliser, 200 kg per ha of AN top dressing and 10 000 to 15 000 kg per ha of manure to produce a quality butternut crop,” said Kupita.
Those producing ginger should apply 30 to 50 tonnes of cow dung, decomposed farm manure or poultry using the broadcast method before planting.
“At least 50 kg P20 and 25 kg of K20 can be applied using the broadcast method at the time of planting,” said Kupita.
For those not practising winter cropping, Kupita said land preparation was the ideal thing to do.
“Most farmers neglect to plough the land after harvesting, waiting to do it when the rains fall yet it would be time for them to start planting,” said Kupita.
“Winter ploughing aids in conserving residual moisture which helps when farmers plant with the first rains.
“One finds that the soil is still wet from the rains received and ploughing now conserves moisture rather than in October when the soils would have already dried up.”
Kupita said winter ploughing was crucial in weed control.
“If the fields are not ploughed, weeds continue to grow and scatter seeds around the fields but through ploughing the weeds are ploughed under and they also decompose and become manure,” he said.
Agriculture was the bedrock of the economy in the past and its revival is crucial to sustainable economic growth.
The sector used to supply about 60 percent of industrial raw materials.
Therefore reviving agriculture must remain Government’s number one priority if Zimbabwe is to reclaim its status as the bread basket of Southern Africa.