Story by Tendai Munengwa
Government says the country is now out of the woods, with the bulk of maize and other crops having reached maturity stage to guarantee food security.
The bulk of the early planted maize crop has reached maturity stage, a development that is expected to see most farmers achieving a good harvest to contribute towards food security.
“Most of us have planted early and medium crop and it has already matured, the other crop is tussling. With these good rains, we are bound for good harvest,” a farmer said.
Government and farmer organisations concur that the season has turned out to be favourable and the country is poised to achieve adequate food both at household and national levels.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union’s president, Dr Shadreck Makombe said, “We are definitely out of the woods in terms of food security, thanks to the heavens which opened and provided the much-needed rains, the crop is looking very good.”
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said, “From our preliminary assessment, the coming of the rains in the second half have done the magic. All farmers are hopeful to get food so we can safely say the season is different from last year as the country will achieve food security.”
The farmers have been urged to be on the lookout and religiously scout for the devastating fall army wormy which can reduce their yields if not controlled.
