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Wimbainashe Zhakata Mutare Correspondent
Agritex officers in Nyanga last week received training in budding and grafting of fruit trees from the Department of Research and Specialist Services as part of efforts to increase fruit production in the district.

Grafting and budding are horticultural techniques used to join from two or more plant parts so that they grow as a single plant.

Nyanga district agricultural extension officer Mr Shadreck Chingombe said the training will benefit a lot of farmers in the long run.

“Fruit trees are important in terms of nutritional value and Nyanga is the district that produces most fruits in the province so we definitely need this knowledge,” he said.

He said fruit tree budding and grafting would save on the cost of buying trees for the farmers.

Department of Research and Specialist Services research officer Mr Walter Mutasa said they are willing to train more stakeholders on the budding and grafting process as part of their mandate.

“Budding and grafting trainings are part our work as a department.

“We teach farmers, agricultural dealers, schools among others so that they get knowledge about farming. This will help increase production,” he said.

Meanwhile, about 99 percent of tobacco farmers in Nyanga have heeded the call to destroy tobacco stalks in a bid to avoid pests and diseases that could affect next season’s tobacco.

Mr Chingombe said he was making rounds across the district to ensure all farmers are ready for next season.

“Ignoring stalks in the field is an offence which is punishable by jail or fine and it results to the increase of pests and diseases for the next season’s tobacco.

“It is a good thing that farmers are complying through early stalk destruction,” he added.