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Elita Chikwati Harare Bureau
FARMERS planted 744,426 hectares of maize during the 2015/16 summer cropping season, a decline of 49 percent from the previous year, information from the Food and Agriculture Organisation has showed.

According to the statistics, 1,531,663 hectares were put under maize last season.

In 2013/14 season farmers had planted 1,721,030 hectares.

The decline in maize production has been attributed to below normal rains that were poorly distributed in space and time.

Matabeleland South registered the highest decline in maize production with farmers planting 18,521ha compared to 101,995ha the previous season.

Matabeleland North registered a decline of 66 percent from 129,96ha last seasons to 44,281ha this season.

In Masvingo, farmers planted 66,668ha, a decline of 65 percent from the 193,183ha planted last year.

Manicaland registered a decline of 54 percent from 216,469ha last year to 99,285ha this season, Mashonaland West planted 123,651ha, a decline of 45 percent from the 224,548 ha last year while Midlands registered a decline of 44 percent from the 291,443ha last year to 163,273ha this year.

Farmers in Mashonaland East planted 122,546ha, a decline of 36 percent from the 191,335ha last year while Mashonaland Central registered a decline of 26 percent from the 182,894ha last year to 136,201ha this season.

El Nino resulted in poor and erratic rains.

Farmers were advised to grow small grains.

According to FAO, the maize crop condition is poor with as much as 75 percent written off in Masvingo and 65 percent in Matabeleland South provinces.

In February President Mugabe declared a state of disaster.

Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union director, Paul Zakariya said most crops were affected by the drought.

He said farmers planted late while others reduced the area put under maize.

“The bulk of the crop is a write off except in some Mashonaland provinces.

“The recent rains have brought relief to livestock as grazing has improved and water for the animals has also improved.

“Livestock deaths have also declined and the rains benefited standing crops. Farmers can’t think of replanting now,” he said.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president, Wonder Chabikwa applauded the government for availing funds for cloud seeding.

“This has gone a long way in aiding rainfall. Although yields will not be increased but the crops on the ground have benefited from these rains,” he said.

Chabikwa urged the government to continue funding cloud seeding every season as the rainfall pattern had become unpredictable due to climate change.