Maize harvest up 30%

ZIMBABWE's 2013/2014 maize production is set to increase by at least 30 percent from last year's harvest of 799 000 tonnes to between 900 000 and one million tonnes.

Despite predictions of a bumper harvest from the preliminary planting estimates for maize that indicated an 18 percent expansion, to 1,66 million hectares, based on the government's first crop and livestock assessment report in February, Zimbabwe will not be able to achieve the pre 2000 harvests of two million tonnes, but an above-average crop is expected.

Most farmers planted late into the season as they awaited rains and this usually reduces yields per hectare. Besides late planting, the heavy rains experienced resulted in heavy leaching while the unavailability and in some instances expensive ammonium nitrate fertiliser did not help the situation.

Commercial Farmers Union president Charles Taffs said last week the season was favourable especially in the southern parts of the country that have the best crop compared to the northern parts of the country where the rains were late and dry spells experienced.

"With the situation on the ground, estimates show that the country will harvest between 900 000 and one million tonnes of maize and looking at the variables, it will be a 30 percent increase from last year's crop," Taffs said.

From the CFU estimates, the country would need to import at least 800 000 tonnes of grain from the region, particularly South Africa which is expecting at least three million tonnes from its maize crop.

However, with regards to the country's anti-GMO policy, Zimbabwe might turn to Zambia and Malawi because the bulk of South Africa's maize crop is GMO. According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation, preliminary expectations point to a maize crop of between 3,7 and 3,9 million tonnes, if favourable weather persists until theend of the harvest period in May/June.

"Zambia experienced a season similar to Zimbabwe - a late start to the season and will be expecting a slight down turn and still needs to fill up its strategic grain reserves. In Malawi, a surplus of 200 000 is expected," Taffs added.

The national annual maize requirement for the country is 1,8 million tonnes. In terms of grain, production of sorghum and millet are also expected to increase on last year's good outputs due to larger plantings, recording seven percent and 22 percent increases in hectarage, respectively.

The 2013/2014 season may be described as a good season compared to the previous season despite the flooding in Masvingo, Tokwe-Mukorsi and in Tsholotsho. Weeks of heavy rain left large parts of Masvingo, Midlands and Matabeleland South provinces under water with the levels of most dams and rivers appearing to have peaked, leaving the situation critical in many areas, particularly along rivers.

Production projections for 2014 from government showed an expected increase in all produce yet the country's food security is under threat. Maize production rose to 1,3 million tonnes up from 799 000 in 2013, tobacco from 166 million kilogrammes to 180 million kg in 2014 and in the cotton sector, from all time peak of 353 000 tonnes in 2000 to a projected 178 900 tonnes in 2014.

As the marketing season kicked off on April 1, farmers are expecting an increased maize producer price of above $400 per tonne to match the production costs which are above $380 per tonne and the import parity price of $466 per tonne.