Hosia Mviringi
Zimbabwe is sitting on the cusp of another successful agricultural season buoyed by a good rainfall season and a timely intervention by the government through the provision of farming inputs and expertise.
The 2020/21 agricultural season is set to become the most successful season for Zimbabwe post land reform, on its testimony of the success of the program.
The government has been consistent in its support of small to medium scale farmers as well as peasants with farming inputs such as seed, chemicals, farming equipment such as tractors as well as extension services.
In the current 2020/21 farming season Zimbabwe registered a 24 percent increase in the total hectarage under the staple maize crop from 1 549 324 hectares in 20219/20 season, to a total of 1 920 541 hactares.
This accounts for the eight farming provinces excluding Harare and Bulawayo metropolitan provinces.
Consistent educational programs have boosted morale and productivity among local farmers raising demand for land among the youths and the young at heart.
Farming has become fashionable in Zimbabwe again and it is becoming an envy of many regional peers.
President Mnangagwa introduced and sustained conservation farming, also known as Pfumvudza, which was ably supported by the Presidential Inputs Scheme.
This, coupled with an elaborate farm mechanisation program that targeted large-scale commercial farmers, has seen the country’s staple maize yield projection jump three-fold.
Government has made deliberate efforts to protect the national herd by availing tick grease and other livestock vaccines at all GMB depots countrywide. This has seen the quality of livestock being assessed as fair to good. Good pastures have aided the quality of livestock this season.
It is pleasant sight to drive around farming communities in Zimbabwe this season, even urban backyard and roadside farms are a marvel to look at. A good maturing crop is always there to nourish the eye.
President Mnangagwa could not hide his excitement and pride in such a feat, which could not have come at a more opportune time, when the government has scaled up its economic development programs by engaging the growth gear under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which takes over from the Transitional Stabilisation Plan and targets growth of not less than five percent per annum for the next five years.
The NDS1 blueprint runs under the theme, “Towards a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle Income Society by 2030″.
“In 2019/2020, Zimbabwe had a maize harvest of 908 thousand tonnes.
This year the maize harvest is predicted to triple to 2,8 million tonnes, a record harvest post-land reform.
Zimbabweans, don’t let the doubters dampen your spirit. Our country is on the path to prosperity!” said the President on his microblogging Twitter handle.
Tobacco Industry Marketing Board Chairman Mr Patrick Devinish was bullish when asked about their projections for this year’s tobacco yield.
“From our early estimates, we projected a yield of 200 million kgs bigger than last year’s 185 million kg.
“This year it could be bigger than that (200 million kgs), but then if rains continue, the crop could be light. But so far the quality of the crop is good,” said Mr Devinish.
Tobacco is one of Zimbabwe’s biggest foreign currency earners at an average of 1 billion dollars annually.
The benefits of a bumper harvest are too numerous to mention, but most importantly Zimbabwe will not be importing food in the next two seasons. This means huge savings on foreign currency and a narrowing of the balance of payment gap.
Tobacco provides the all-important foreign currency for the country’s critical imports.
Agricultural produce is naturally a major driver of industrial productivity as more processing capacity will be r…
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