Story by Tendai Munengwa
GOVERNMENT is targeting a national grain output of 3 000 000 tonnes this season after farmers doubled hectarage to 470 000 hectares.
Bouyed by the historic wheat harvest which hit 375 000 tonnes this year, government has been working with farmers to increase hectarage for other grains.
The drive has been successful with 470 000 hectares put under maize this season as compared to 216 000 planted last year.
“The 2022 season has been very good as you are aware for the first time we broke the wheat output record. We thank our farmers for producing 375 000 metric tonnes of wheat. On Maize we are targeting to produce three million metric tonnes in the coming season, 250 000 tonnes of small grains this will ensure we have national food security, said the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Anxious Masuka.
With rains being received countrywide, Minister Masuka rallied farmers to speed up planting and scout for pests especially the destructive fall army worm.
“The rains are upon us, I urge all farmers to put hands on the deck, apply their fertilisers, weed and work with the plant protection department in the event of my pest and fall army worm outbreaks which is a big threat to our harvest,” he added.
Meanwhile, the hectarage for cotton has increased by 600 percent to 90 000 hectares as compared to 13 000 planted during the same period time last year.
