Zimbabwe's summer planting campaign has accelerated dramatically, with farmers cultivating over 22,000 hectares of maize compared to fewer than 7,000 hectares during the same period a year earlier. Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka encouraged producers to maximize the current rainfall, noting that half of all fertilizer and seed under the Presidential Input Support Programme should reach communities by week's end. The initiative targets three million farmers nationwide.
Provincial data shows Mashonaland East leading maize cultivation at 8,561 hectares, while Manicaland follows with 4,799 hectares. Authorities project total cereal output of 3.2 million tonnes from 2.6 million hectares, representing an increase from the previous season's 2.9 million tonnes. National dam levels stand at 73.1 percent capacity, and 16,350 tractors have been deployed for land preparation.
The government attributes the momentum to favorable meteorological forecasts predicting normal to above-average precipitation. Farmers have prepared 15.3 million conservation agriculture plots under the Pfumvudza system, while traditional grains, including sorghum and pearl millet, gain traction in drier southern regions.
Provincial data shows Mashonaland East leading maize cultivation at 8,561 hectares, while Manicaland follows with 4,799 hectares. Authorities project total cereal output of 3.2 million tonnes from 2.6 million hectares, representing an increase from the previous season's 2.9 million tonnes. National dam levels stand at 73.1 percent capacity, and 16,350 tractors have been deployed for land preparation.
The government attributes the momentum to favorable meteorological forecasts predicting normal to above-average precipitation. Farmers have prepared 15.3 million conservation agriculture plots under the Pfumvudza system, while traditional grains, including sorghum and pearl millet, gain traction in drier southern regions.
