Government has revealed that they have secured up to 55 000 tonnes of top dressing fertiliser to avert local shortages and ensure summer crops are not affected by nitrogen deficiency.
According to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka, the fertiliser is set to be distributed to farmers around the country soon adding that they will get the top dressing fertilisers in two batches.
“We are bringing in 55 000 tonnes of fertiliser via Chirundu, Beitbridge and Forbes border posts. My expectation is that we will be able to see accelerated delivery into the country and distribution.
“We have put expediters at the various border posts so that trucks carrying fertilisers go onto the green route and there is no delay. As of Friday, we had cleared all trucks coming through Beitbridge. We had an average of 35 to 40 trucks each carrying 34 tonnes urea or ammonium nitrate. We are doing the same in Chirundu and Forbes.
“There was a bit of destruction as the ship could not dock and had to be returned. We are now accelerating that. We advise farmers that once we have this product they may not be able to get their full allocations because the plant does not require all the nitrogen in one day.
“The plant will use the nitrogen over a period of time from about six leaf stage going forward.
“We want to give farmers about 50 percent of their requirements so we can give as many farmers as possible so that they will receive these top dressing fertilisers in two tranches,” he said.
By Friday last week, between 35 and 40 trucks passed through Beitbridge, each carrying about 34 tonnes of top dressing fertiliser.
The fertiliser has started arriving and some Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots have started receiving the imported fertiliser and distributing.
For the 2020/21 agricultural season, the country requires 106 000 tonnes for Command Agriculture and 95 000 for the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programmes and these are required in a short space of time.
The Minister recently announced that a total of 3000 new tractors are expected to be imported into the country this year as Government continues to boost agriculture .
Speaking during the launch of the Zunde ra Mambo/ Isiphala se Nkosi programme at Chief Mapanzure’s homestead in Zvishavane towards the end of last year, Dr Masuka said the tractor support programme would propel the agriculture sector to new heights.
Meanwhile, YAFM, the Pulse of the Great Dyke, in association with online television portal Great Dyke TV, are launching the inaugural Great Dyke Mining and Agriculture Awards on The awards promote excellence and aim to unlock the growth potential in mining and agricultural companies operating in the mineral rich geological complex called the Great Dyke, which trends from north to south for over 500 kilometres.
Some of the country’s biggest mining entities such as Platinum Group Metal producers Mimosa, Unki and Zimplats are located in the region which also supports vibrant agricultural activities.
