Zimbabwe will soon ensure seed maize producers are paid double what commercial maize fetches to ensure adequate seed supplies next season.
The Minister of Agriculture, Rugare Gumbo, told a weekly briefing on preparedness for the just starting rainy agricultural summer season that there was need to pay seed producers viable prices as an incentive to continue producing for the local and export markets. "We want to formulate a policy where maize seed price is double that of commercial seed so that we can encourage seed production," he said.
Seed producers have to ensure there is no contamination, which means no other maize variety can be grown within a 500-metre radius of the seed maize field. With the smaller farms now common, farmers wishing to move into seed maize might need to come together to minimise the risk of contamination.
"We are happy with current maize seed situation. We planned to have 50 000 tonnes of maize seed and we have secured 30 000 tonnes. Right now, we have confirmed with seed houses 30 000 tonnes. We are in short supply of about 15 000 tonnes," Gumbo said.
At least 4 000 tonnes of seed were reserved for seed subsidy programmes, while 2 000 tonnes would be sold directly to farmers by seed companies. 12 000 tonnes have been imported from Zambia and more are expected from other countries soon.
Gumbo said the challenges were with small grains such as groundnuts and millet, and consultations were underway to import more seed.
On land preparation, the minister said this season the country has targeted to put at least two million hectares under maize, but only 138,000 hectares have been prepared so far.
Minister of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Irrigation, Joseph Made, also noted that seed production should be given highest priority. "Seed production must be given the highest priority. We must come up with a buffer of 24 months to 36 months of seed. We always do it to ease demand for next season and encourage early planting," he said.
The Herald
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Meanwhile, an agricultural expert and opposition party official said a big percentage of farmers have failed to get maize seed and fertiliser amid fears this would contribute to very low yields next year.
Renson Gasela, a former Grain Marketing Board chief executive a current official of the main opposition MDC party, said the situation was getting critical. The government in October launched an ambitious plan to revive the country's agricultural production, which included the distribution of hundreds of tractors, combine harvesters and planters.
"Even with the state-of the art equipment that these farmers have, what do you produce when you don't have the maize seed and fertiliser. Government is saying they have distributed 30,000 tonnes of seed but where is it? We don't see it," Gasela said.
"We have had good rains, and we are in the second week of November. What it means is each day planting is delayed, it would result in lost yield. A 15-day delay can contribute to a 35 percent reduction in yield,' added Gasela.
'"hese shortages are all consequences of the fast-track land reform programme. Before the invasions, commercial farmers would produce enough seed for sale and you can imagine it's no longer the case now," Gasela said.
Gasela remains doubtful the country would be able to produce enough food to feed itself from this farming season, and expected food shortages to continue after the harvest and well into 2008.
SW Radio Africa
