Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network

Harare: Over 11 percent of the maize crop planted in the 2009/2010-summer season has been declared a complete write-off. According to the First Round Crop and Livestock Assessment report, poor rains and hailstorms have affected 200 574 hectares of maize out of a total 1 723 990 hectares planted this season.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irriga-tion Development Minister Joseph Made yesterday said as at February 12 this year, 54 percent of the maize crop was at reproductive stage.

The crop condition was poor to fair in most parts of the country. "The most affected regions were Matabeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo, parts of Manicaland and Mashonaland Central. The maize crop is mostly in fair condition in the Mashonaland provinces with pockets of exceptionally good crops in Mazowe, Bindura, Guruve, Zvimba, Gokwe South, Chegutu and Insiza, Bubi, Binga and Matobo," Minister Made said.

The report established that the land put under cotton decreased by 18 percent from 316 656 hectares to 261 191 hectares from last year. The decrease was attributed to lack of inputs support after cotton companies scaled down their programmes. Poor producer prices last season also saw farmers shunning cotton.

Good rains received in the last week of January, however, contributed to better cotton crop conditions, which ranged from fair to good in most cotton areas. Minister Made said the quality of cotton was high despite the decrease in production. The minister said there was an increase in tobacco production this season. "More than 67 000 hectares of flu-cured tobacco were planted compared to 46 288 planted last year, an increase of 69 percent," he said.

The report attributed the increase to the availability of inputs support as contractors scaled up their programmes. Minister Made said most farmers were faced with electricity shortages that had hampered tobacco curing.

"This shows the extent to which sanctions have affected this country. The country is failing to repair machines at Hwange Power Station and the impact is massive. We have to really work on this particular issue."

He said current rains could improve crops that were in fair condition. "The second round crop assessment will therefore give a different report on the crops. Farmers in some parts of the country, especially the Lowveld, are planting and replanting and this has an effect on the second round assessment," he said.

Livestock conditions were fair to good in most communal areas while in A2, A1 and commercial farms animals were in good condition, according to the report. The report indicates grazing pastures were good at the time of the assessment although some areas were badly affected by the dry weather conditions. The worst affected were communal areas in Chivi, Chiredzi, Mwenezi, Zaka, Zvishavane and Shurugwi districts.

The Government has recommended the establishment of a 500 000-tonne maize strategic reserve and prompt payment of farmers who deliver to the Grain Marketing Board. The Ministry of Finance has also released US$3,5 million for the payment of farmers who deliver maize, wheat and other crops to the GMB.

"GMB should avail maize as a priority to districts likely to be affected by crop failure. We should move with speed to ensure top dressing fertilizers are distributed to targeted areas with good rains and crops with potential," he said.

Cabinet has recommended the release of permits to individuals and companies to import maize. The first crop assessment involved the World Food Programme, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, and the United Nations Development Progra-mme.

Eleven percent maize a write-off