Floods threaten ED’s Pfumvudza programme

Nhau Correspondent

Excessive rains currently pounding the country are threatening Government’s Pfumvunza programme.
The agricultural initiative was brought about by perennial droughts in previous farming seasons, which saw farmers implementing a zero tillage land preparation process while mulching even before planting.
With large amounts of rains which have led to flooding in many areas including Manicaland, Masvingo and Midlands provinces, farmers are already reporting negative effects of rains on their maize crops.
An Agritex officer working on the programme told Nhau that most plants are turning yellow.
“The heavy rains have leached away nutrients thus most crops are turning yellow due to malnutrition,” she said.
“It does not help our cause that the programme was based on low inputs. Now there is need to add more ammonium nitrate, and in cases where the rains are really much, remove the mulching and even ridge the crops to salvage a reasonable harvest.”
The Agritex officer, however, dismissed a possibility of a perceived bumper harvest under the programme.
“As it is we need additional inputs whereas Government has not even finished handing out the initial inputs such as seeds, Compound D fertilizers which is supposed to be used when planting and Ammonium Nitrate,” she said.
“It will be unrealistic to think they will supplement fertilizer in time to salvage not the expected yields but just enough for farmers to eat.” Nhau/Indaba