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Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondent
THe training of farmers on good farming techniques has intensified here ahead of the 2018-19 farming season.

Midlands provincial crop and livestock officer, Mrs Madeline Magwenzi said they have intensified pre-planting training and demonstrations in all districts across the province.

“Farmers have already started land preparation and we are present in all areas to offer pre planting lessons and demonstrations as we eye to improve hectrage in various crops. We are guided by the seasonal rainfall forecast where we are expecting to receive normal to below normal rain. We realise that much areas of our province are in the dry agro-ecological regions 4 and 5 hence the need to raise farmer awareness ahead of the onset of the rains,” Mr Magwenzi said.

Mrs Magwenzi said a number of farmers have expressed interest in joining the Command Agriculture programme.

“We are currently registering farmers for Command Agriculture for the maize crop and soyabeans. We have so far contracted 72 farmers for maize under irrigation where 3 518 hectares will be irrigated. On the dryland side 7 550 farmers are so far contracted and they will plough 9 750 hectares for the command maize. Our statistics show that more farmers have the zeal to join command programmes as compared to the previous season,“ she said.

Mrs Magwenzi said Command Soyabeans will be taken up mainly by farmers with irrigation facilities.