Wheat harvesting advice

THE Agritex Department is encouraging winter wheat farmers in areas receiving
showers to delay harvesting while those enjoying dry days have been advised to
speed up the harvesting.

Most parts of Mashonaland Central, mainly the four wheat growing districts of
Bindura, Shamva, Mazowe and Centenary, have been experiencing daily showers
for the past two weeks.

Bindura District Agritex extension officer, Elliot Kudyanyemba, said he hoped for the
sky to clear up.

“We pin our hopes on the Metrological Services Department forecast that the
weather will clear up soon. If it becomes sunny, it will be good for our wheat farmers,
as it will allow the crop to dry off and becomes ready for harvesting.
“Our advice to winter wheat farmers is that they should assess the moisture content
of their crop. If it is too high, they should wait to harvest, unless the farmer has
access to a dryer,” he said.

All the four districts bank on a single drier at Concession Grain Marketing Board
depot.

Kudyanyemba said right now the crop is fair but moist conditions should not persist,
otherwise it will not be good for the crop.

Around 5 000 hectares were harvested last week out of the 16 000ha under winter
wheat across the province.

Currently, the targeted yield average per hectare is seven tonnes.
According to the provincial extension officer, Misheck Chitokomere, this is because
the wheat which is being harvested was planted timeously during the recommended
period.

“We expect our average to be around 5,5 tonnes/ha at completion,” he said.
Meanwhile, the number of people in need of food aid through the year has been
shrinking after the expansion of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme.
The programme, every year is increasing the number of beneficiaries and area
planted, resulting in increased programme beneficiaries and yields.
Those undertaking the programme are guaranteed to get at least three (3) tonnes
per hectare.

Last year the target was at 2,5 tonnes per hectare.
Misheck Chitokomere, the provincial extension officer, said the yield per hectare is
expected to increase this coming season cognisant that inputs are already being
given, compared to previous seasons.

The total hectarage targeted under Pfumvudza this season has been set at 65584 to
be covered by at least 441 970 beneficiaries (households).
These households are being given all necessary farming inputs they want in the
sector, from seed to herbicides for free.

Around 4 210 tonnes of top dressing fertiliser had arrived in Bindura ready for
distribution to farmers by Thursday out of the expected 21570 tonnes.
In terms of Compound D, the whole provinçe is set to get 21 570 tonnes and so far 1
500 tonnes have been distributed.

These farmers are also getting knapsacks for spraying insects and weeds. They are
each also getting, the herbicides.

Loice Manyara, a farmer in Shamva’s Chakonda communal lands, said the
Pfumvudza programme had helped her to a great extent.

“Together with my three children, we used to depend on piece jobs and charity to get
food in previous years. However, since l embraced the programme two years ago, l
can at least feed them without begging. I am now guaranteed of a rest from doing
piece jobs ever since l joined the scheme, though the yield does not take me through
until the next harvest,” she said.