Senior Reporter Zimbabwe has set a target of 3,6 million tonnes of maize for the forthcoming summer cropping season, which weather experts say may have good rains. Seed and fertiliser producers are already prepared with inputs. Last year, the production of maize and traditional grains was estimated at 1,1 million tonnes against a national requirement of about 2,3 million for human and livestock consumption.
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Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr John Basera yesterday said targets of 1,5 million hectares had been set for planting with an average of 2,4 tonnes per hectare for the expected yield. For traditional grains, targets of 750 000 tonnes of sorghum, 200 000 tonnes of pearl millet, 37 500 tonnes finger millet and 240 000 tonnes of soya bean, had been set. The summer cropping programme will be funded through public and private entities, development partners' support, and public private partnership arrangements. Dr Basera said crops falling outside Government-funded programmes will get support from private contractors, farmers' own resources and development partners that support sector activities. "In line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme underpinning tenets, value chain financing models through contract farming is a smart and sustainable way to support growing as well as off-take of strategic crops. To this end, players in the oil, stock ...
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