Govt assesses post-harvest losses 

Source: Govt assesses post-harvest losses | The Herald August 31, 2018

Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has embarked on a post-harvest assessment of losses to ascertain the actual proceeds from the 2017/ 2018 cropping season.

Midlands provincial crop and livestock officer Mrs Madeline Magwenzi said the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement had dispatched teams to all districts, assessing the post-harvest losses.

Mrs Magwenzi said the assessment started last week and is likely to be completed by next week.

She said the teams will soon compile the information and forward it to the Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri, who will make a public announcement of the crop situation.

“We are conducting a post-harvest assessment,” said Mrs Magwenzi.

“Teams have been deployed to all districts. After the assessment, we will compile the information and submit it to our minister, who will then inform the public on the situation in the country.”

Mrs Magwenzi said Midlands would significantly contribute to cotton output in the country.

She said Gokwe, one of the districts in the province, was a cotton production hub.

“Gokwe is our stronghold in terms of cotton production and this year we are going to contribute significantly,” said Mrs Magwenzi.

“The farmers in that region have a great potential. Most farmers in Gokwe, who in the past deserted cotton farming over various reasons, are now going back to their traditional crop.

“The farmers in that region are also good in peanuts and sweet potato production.

“They do exceptionally well year in year out.”

In the livestock production sector, the province was still grappling with foot and mouth disease in Gweru District.

She said there were fresh cases of foot and mouth in Gweru after farmers illegally transported livestock from quarantined areas.

Mrs Magwenzi said in other districts, the disease was under control.

“We do have fresh cases of foot and mouth in Gweru,” she said.

“We have managed to contain it in other districts, but in Gweru there are animals moved there from quarantined areas outside the province.”