Story by Owen Mandovha
THE Government is intensifying preparations for the anticipated El Niño-affected summer cropping season by ensuring seed producers have adequate supplies of suitable seed varieties to sustain agricultural production.
With forecasts pointing to an El Niño-induced drought, authorities are implementing measures to strengthen agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ resilience to adverse weather conditions.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Professor Obert Jiri, toured seed producer Valley Seeds in Juru on Tuesday to assess the company’s readiness for the forthcoming season.
Professor Jiri said the focus is on increasing the availability of short-season seed varieties to help farmers adapt to changing weather conditions.
“This is important so that we establish the state of preparedness, and here at Valley Seeds we have seen that they have aligned their production processes to our requirements in anticipation of the short season, where we are encouraging farmers to adopt short-season varieties. Agro-ecological planning is also going to play a key role to ensure production matching to improve productivity and production,” he said.
Valley Seeds Plant Manager Mr Patrick Sajeni said the company is ready to meet farmers’ requirements.
“We have received at least 90 percent of our seed maize from farmers, and currently our plant is in full motion processing the seed maize. We are ready to distribute the seed maize once the season begins so that every farmer gets the seed,” he said.
Government is also mobilising resources to ensure adequate supplies of basal and top-dressing fertilisers while encouraging farmers to insure their crops against climate-related risks.
The interventions form part of broader efforts to strengthen food security and build resilience in the agricultural sector ahead of the summer cropping season.
