By Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa
Insiza District – Farmers in Insiza District gathered at the Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme today for a winter wheat field day, focusing on maximizing yields despite water shortages experienced during the growing season. The scheme holds the majority of the district’s winter wheat crop this year, with 311 hectares planted before the July 20th cutoff date.
Experts from Agritex, the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA), the Agricultural Finance Cooperation (AFC), and other agricultural institutions led informative presentations and demonstrations. Topics covered best practices in winter wheat cultivation, including planting techniques, disease control, drought-resistant varieties, innovative irrigation methods, and machinery use.
A field tour provided a platform for farmers to share their experiences and challenges. The primary concern raised was the impact of water scarcity on crop quality due to the dry spell. Mr. Lucky Maseko, Filabusi manager for the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), encouraged farmers to prioritize weed control to maintain wheat grade and assured them of packaging bag availability at the local depot.
Guest of honor Mr. Ndodana Ncube, ARDA regional manager, emphasized the importance of field days in bringing knowledge and services to rural communities. He praised the Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme for adopting the block system, which he described as a learning phase that will enhance farmers’ bankability and access to commercial farming services. He stressed the vital role of teamwork in the success of this system.
Acknowledging the farmers’ perseverance through water challenges, Mr. Ncube applauded their hard work and patience. He also urged them to repay debts incurred during the planting season to ensure continued access to credit facilities. To minimize post-harvest losses, he advised farmers to cover and secure their harvested wheat against rain and theft.
District Agritex Extension Officer Mr. Augustine Mhike encouraged farmers to prepare their fields for maize planting after the wheat harvest, despite the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) representative’s announcement that irrigation water for maize is unavailable, leaving farmers reliant on rainfall.
The field day was attended by government stakeholders, representatives from various agricultural institutions, and local farmers. Despite the water challenges, an average yield of 3-4 tonnes per hectare is still anticipated.
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