By Rutendo Ngara
THE Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) says farmers should deliver their wheat to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) early to minimise post-harvest losses.
Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, ZCFU president Shadreck Makombe said since wheat is now ready for harvesting, farmers should not take time to deliver because the pre-harvesting season has its own losses and delaying in delivering will cost them.
“Given the situation, we have always been urging farmers in order for them not to suffer post-harvest losses which are associated with the stress caused by pests and rodents, among other things.
“If they harvest and deliver early, yes, they will minimise post-harvest losses to a certain extent.
“They might incur huge losses in harvesting if they take time to do so because right now wheat is ready for harvesting.
“Considering veld fires, birds and rodents, other pests and insects, farmers may incur huge losses,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ministry of Lands said they have reported new cases of quelea outbreaks in the country, which may affect wheat and barley harvesting that have already commenced.
In a statement, the ministry said that farmers who would be affected by the outbreak should plant their crops within a recommended date, that is May 15 every year, to avoid grain loss due to qualea birds.
“Few reports on quelea outbreaks were received with only six roosting sites controlled in Mashonaland Central (3) and Mashonaland West (3).
“The quaelea birds are moving to feed on and shatter husks of late planted wheat crop, which is at soft dough stage.
“Department of Migratory Pests and Biosecurity Control has warned that the battle is not won, urging farmers in small grain growing areas to continuously report on quaelea roosting and breeding even in off seasons as an early warning system.
“This will enable the government to timely control and reduce bird populations, ensuring the nation’s food security,” the ministry said.