Monze District Commissioner Joyce Nondo has expressed her worry over the inadequate storage sheds which are overwhelmed by the bumper harvest in the District.
Mrs.Nondo said that government was however doing everything possible to address the situation to ensure that the produce is safeguarded from adverse weather conditions that may prevail due to climate changes being experienced worldwide.
The District Commissioner was speaking during the District agriculture and commercial show held at Monze Central Farm block yesterday.
The show was held under the theme : “Shaping tomorrow’s world through technology and natural resources,” held at Monze Central Farm block yesterday.
Mrs.Nondo said that due to technologies aimed at improving farming methods for sustainable and improved production; Monze District had achieved a significant increase of 15 percent in maize production this year.
She attributed the increased production of maize which had resulted into another bumper harvest to the increased number of beneficiaries from the Government supported inputs through the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) during the previous allocation.
Mrs.Nondo said that Government increased the allocation of inputs to Monze District from 15,740 beneficiaries during the 2009/2010 season to 25,350 beneficiary’s packs which represented 83 percent increase during the 2010/2011 farming season.
She said that this had resulted in a bumper harvest of an estimated crop yield to 3,500,000 by 50 kg bags from 2,500,000 by 50 kg bags of white grain maize representing 15 percent significant increase of maize production in the District.
Mrs.Nondo said that it was due to this significant increase in maize production that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) was expected to purchase 819,000 by 50 kg bags of white maize grain in Monze during this year’s ongoing marketing season.
She said that Government had created an enabling environment for maize and other crops through FRA in order to boost development of the agricultural sector.
She added that through increased purchasing of maize by FRA, farmers will have adequate incomes that will sustain their livelihoods and contribute to increased food security both at household level and national level.
ZANIS
