REMARKS FROM THE PROVINCES

Mashonaland Central

Ø      Planting of wheat is complete in all districts and verification of the area planted going on.

Ø      Shortage of AN is affecting the growth and this may reduce final yield of the crop.

Ø      Large populations of quelea birds have been controlled by aerial sprays in Mazoe and Bindura districts and this came as a relief to the farmers. The Spraying teams are continuing to monitor the movement of birds in the Province.

Ø      There is fuel shortage across the districts.

Mashonaland West

Ø      The crop stage ranges from vegetative to soft dough and the quelea birds are starting to be a problem in the province. However spraying teams have been deployed in affected areas to control and monitor the birds

Ø      Most of the farmers are now top-dressing their crop however shortage of AN is affecting growth of crops as some are showing signs of nitrogen deficiency.

Mashonaland East

Ø      Planting of wheat is now complete and the crop is now at vegetative to soft dough stage.

Ø      The crop is in fair condition but needs top dressing as matter of urgency.

Ø      Colonies of quelea birds being seen but they are not yet a threat to the crop in the province

Manicaland

Ø      The crop is in a fair to good condition and the crop stage ranges from vegetative to flowering stage.

Ø      Quelea birds’ colonies have been reported in Chipinge but the birds have not yet started to be a problem in the district.

Ø      Shortage of top dressing fertilizer is affecting the crop and the crop is showing signs of nitrogen deficiency.

Midlands

Ø      The crop is in good condition although shortage of AN is affecting the growth of the crop.

Ø      Quelea birds’ outbreak has been reported in Kwekwe Sherwood block and control strategies are underway.

Ø      Most of the farmers are top-dressing their crop but shortage of AN is slowing the normal operations.

Masvingo

Ø      Farmers have completed planting and the crop is in a fair condition.

Ø      Most of the farmers cannot get AN for top dressing and this is needed as a matter of urgency so as to increase the yield of the crop.

Matabeleland South

Ø      Low water levels in dams have affected the area planted in the province and the area planted is 1700 ha.

Ø      Ammonium nitrate has to be made available to the farmers so as to maintain higher yield across the province.

Matabeleland North

Ø     Planting of wheat is complete and most of the farmers are busy sourcing AN for top dressing.

Ø     About 90 tonnes of AN has been received in Umguza but no herbicides have been received.