The Agriculture sector is predicated to register a positive growth on crop harvest for the 2008/2009 Agricultural farming season, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning 2008 Economic Report has stated.

The ministry attributes this to increased number of beneficiaries from the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) and enhanced provision of extension services which is expected to boost production and productivity in the sector.

The report however revealed that maize production declined during the 2007/08 Agricultural season by 11.3 percent, to 1.2million metric tones from 1.4 million metric tones in the previous farming season.

The decline is attributed to floods that affected most parts of the country, insufficient supply of fertilizer and continued low productivity.

Other crops that registered decline included Sorghum, Cassava and Burley Tobacco which fell by 21.5 percent, 2.1 percent and 13.4 percent respectively.

Despite recording a decline in crop production the country recorded an overall food surplus of 564,548 metric tonnes maize meal equivalent and was largely on account of surplus recorded in cassava, wheat and maize.

However, challenges relating to the purchase, storage and release of maize on the market resulted in a shortage during the year whilst maize and mealie meal prices also rose in the fourth quarter,
ZANIS/AH/MKM/ENDS .

10 COMMENTS

Zoe March 23, 2009 At 3:39 pm

OK
Ba Moze March 23, 2009 At 3:39 pm

I strongly beg to differ with this story!! What growth or increase??
- Bhutta!!! March 23, 2009 At 4:10 pm
  
  its the same thing. Duh!! Growth means an increase and Increase = growth.
- Ba Moze March 23, 2009 At 4:20 pm
  
  You are missing the point…Buttah!!
- Chimpanzee March 23, 2009 At 4:28 pm
  
  Ba Moze, you are not alone. Just look at the factors these people are basing their claims on. Fertizer Support Prog & increased extension services dont mean an increased production, we know how the FSP was poorly implemented and floods has swept away most of the crops. Extension services very limited due to inadequate logistics to the officers. Am doubting if this story is true mwe
- Ba Moze March 23, 2009 At 4:33 pm
  
  Thanks for getting the point. The FSP was mismanaged! Its not a secret. Most farmers could not afford fertiliser, so i dont understand where these sentiments are coming from.
Pankwa March 23, 2009 At 3:42 pm

With those floods we keep on hearing about, wont there be crop failure in some parts of the country?
Chimpanzee March 23, 2009 At 4:04 pm

well, lets wait and see after farmers harvest. For now this assertion remain a rumour because the factors being referred to for an increase to happen dont hold water
Barotse Bull in Grahamstown March 23, 2009 At 4:40 pm

Had Chiluba, whose name is not worthy to mention, not killed the cooperatives, this country would have been a shining example in this area. But just telling us about increased crop harvests with no facts is really funny. Sikatana tried but if was in the wrong area. By the way who is in Agric now? Or is it still on Auto Pilot like the rest of the land?
- Chimpanzee March 23, 2009 At 4:56 pm
  
  Agric. has Hon. B. Chituwo and his brother Hon. B. Machhiiila for livestock&fish. Remember the Bantu Batatwe or something like that