THE 2012 tobacco selling season opens on February 15 amid expectations from stakeholders of high output and quality crop.

The tobacco would be auctioned at four floors Tobacco Sales Floor, Boka Tobacco Floors, Millennium Tobacco and Premier Tobacco.

Players in the industry told Standardbusiness they hope for a “bit more in terms of national yield and better quality tobacco”.

Zimbabwe Progressive Tobacco Farmers Union president, Nicholas Kapungu, told Standardbusiness that the organisation is optimistic ahead of the selling season, as all members will sell the crop to one buyer, Star International Tobacco, whom they have agreed with on prices.

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ZIMBABWE yet again faces one of the most important periods for the country; another agricultural season. A lot depends on a successful agricultural season: The economy is expected to grow by 9,3% this year, with agriculture forecast to grow by 19,3% to support this growth. The success of agriculture is vital for the country’s food security. Once known as the bread basket of the region, Zimbabwe’s tables have turned and the country is now a net importer of agricultural products. Such a development is sad indeed.

Many have placed the blame on the lack of preparedness on the part of the new farmers. Ideally, one should have inputs in place before the season begins so that no delays are experienced as soon as the rains start. That, however, is not the case on the ground. One season after another, the farmers are always found wanting and the whole farming process is delayed from the onset.

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In contemporary years the world has been bombarded with unending challenges of food security, economic development, poverty alleviation, urban blight, waste recycling and environmental preservation effects which have also proved to be new threats to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, urban communities have been the most affected and have taken urban agriculture as an ameliorative tool.

This has resulted in the expansion of urban agriculture worldwide – a phenomenon that has wedged the attention of policy makers, pressure groups, politicians and funding agencies. Within the last decade, the practice has gained widespread value in urban areas due to increasing urban food insecurity, souring environmental degradation and competition from other land uses such as residential development.

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Fertiliser manufacturers have indicated that they have adequate stocks to cater for the winter farming season. Government has targeted to put 45 000 hectares under winter wheat production this season.

The country’s top two fertiliser companies, Windmill and the Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company, confirmed that they had over 70 000 tonnes of both ammonium and compound fertilisers to meet winter wheat farming requirements. Windmill chief executive Mr George Rundogo told New Ziana, the company had 26 000 tonnes of both ammonium nitrate and compound fertilisers in stock.

“We will be producing a further 16 000 tonnes, bringing the total to 42 000 tonnes of the commodity,” he said. He was optimistic the company could supply the required quantity of fertilisers on its own. “The projected hectarage requires 40 000 tonnes, this means we will have a surplus of fertiliser on the market,” Mr Rundogo said.

He said Windmill had managed to increase productivity from 65 percent last year to 80 percent. ZFC managing director Dr Richard Dafana also confirmed the availability of fertiliser. “We have more than enough fertiliser for winter wheat. Our stock levels currently stand at 24 000 tonnes of compound D and 20 000 tones of ammonium nitrate,” Dr Dafana said.

“We can produce up to 40 000 tonnes of compound D and 30 000 ammonium nitrate.” Dr Dafana said owing to increased production, the company was targeting to resume exports soon. Shortage of inputs such as fertiliser has previously beset wheat production.

Government has released US$26,2 million to fund this year’s winter wheat cropping. Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made said US$11 million would go to rehabilitation of smallholder irrigation schemes and US$5,2 million was for buying last season’s fertiliser and seed from the Grain Marketing Board.

“The other US$10 million will go towards mobilising other wheat production related resources,” Minister Made said in Harare yesterday. He said the sector needed an additional US$10m and the Finance Ministry was working on raising this.

“Banks are also mobilising resources for individual farmers and this is not part of this Government funding.

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