The government says it is committed to developing the agricultural sector through improving agricultural research and development which will ease challenges in the sector.
Speaking during the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society(ZAS) handover of commercial maize production field guide yesterday, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement David Marapira said his Ministry will continue providing the much-needed services to address the challenges in production, productivity and product quality.
“It is important for all stakeholders gathered to support the implementation of such a noble agenda by participating in the various activities for controlling plant pests which include scouting, identification and safe use of pesticides.
“In order to achieve the above, departments in my Ministry will continue providing the much-needed services to address the challenges in production, productivity and product quality,” he said.
Marapira also urged smallholder farmers to practice hand picking and crushing of the fall armyworm egg masses and larvae as a control method.
“l would like to urge farmers to use pesticides recommended.l am aware that various chemicals and materials were used in the previous season as farmers tried to control the pest.
“To smallholder farmers, we are encouraging hand picking and crushing of the Fall armyworm egg masses and larvae as a control method,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ZAS handed five thousand commercial maize production field guide handbooks to the of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement.
The guide published by the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society aims to provide information that will lead to the attainment of at least five tonnes per hectare of maize.
According to Marapira, the move is an eloquent statement to the success of the ZAS’s re-positioning of its mandate in its amended constitution of promoting agriculture.
“That ZAS has seen it necessary to support government efforts to revive agriculture, is an eloquent statement to the success of the organisation’s re-positioning of its mandate in its amended constitution of promoting agriculture and its supporting activities, and to facilitate agriculture development in Zimbabwe,” he said.
