Wayne Ncube
The
first round of the Crop and Livestock Assessment report presented in Parliament
last week which was presented by President Emmerson Mnangagwa placed Masvingo
province on second place on the maize production scale in the 2020/21 cropping
season.
Masvingo
recorded a 43 percent increase in maize production with 226 574 hectares
of cultivated land up from last season’s 158 620 hectares.
On
percentage increase in the hectares put under maize production Matebeleland
South tops the list having recorded 62 percent increase with 128 715
hectares up from 79 333 while third placed Matebeleland North recorded a
40 percent increase to 125 196 hectares up from 89 183 hectares.
“Matebeleland
South recorded a 62 percent increase in the hectares put under maize production
with 128 715 hectares up from 79 333 recorded last season, while Matebeleland
North recorded a 40 percent increase to 125 196 hectares from 89 123 hectares
and Masvingo recorded a 43 percent increase to 226 574 hectares from 158 620
hectares,” reads the report.
Masvingo
Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) Jefta Sakupwanya told TellZim News
that the surge of maize production this season was a result of substantial rains
which were received.
“The
heavy rains we received during the rainy season resulted to the increase of
maize production and as Masvingo we are expecting a bumper harvest this season,”
said Sakupwanya.
Sakupwanya
said the province now has to focus on post-harvest management issues which may
affect the yield and how farmers can protect their crops.
“Now
we have to look at issues relating to post-harvest management because we may
not get the yields we are expecting due to various pests, therefore we need
supply of pesticides such as Chirindamatura to be made available to farmers so
we can protect and preserve what we have harvested,” said Sakupwanya.
The
country’s total number of maize production rose by 24 percent to
1 920 541 hectares from 1 549 324 hectares planted last
season.
