KENNEDY MASONA
MIRROR REPORTER

GUTU – Leading producer and marketer of certified seed in Zimbabwe, Seed Co has urged farmers not to use cheap and unverified inputs in their farms as this will affect the quantity and quality of their yields.
Seed Co Agronomist Brighton Musakanda told an onion field day held in Gutu West Ward 29 at Mupira homestead last Wednesday that farmers should avoid cheap products.
He said although quality products maybe expensive, they enhance yields and preserve the quality of soils.
“Farmers should not use cheap and low quality seeds as the probability of producing low quality yields is high. Farmers also need to know their soils, water capacity and the climate in their respective environments for them to be successful in farming.
“The purpose of the field day was to train farmers on onion farming and marketing. Open Pollinated Variety seed (OPV) is more likely to produce few and poor yield as compared to Hybrid seed although it is expensive. The best fertiliser to use for onions is Compound C although Compound D can also be used but it has less effects on the crop as compared to Compound C,” he said.
The field day was under the theme: Farming as a Business.
Over 100 farmers and representatives from Greenfuse, Farm and City, Farmers Choice and Syngenta, Veterinary Services and Agritex and Government also attended the field day.
Philip Mupira who has 42 000 onions in his one acre plot said he is expecting a US$4 200 pay out.
“Land preparation is important because that is when we apply manure to help the soil gain nutrients. Currently there are 42 000 onions in the field which will be sold at $1 for 10 in the market therefore I’m expecting around $4200. I encourage other farmers to take up farming as a business,” he said.
Musakanda also said that Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser should be applied a week after planting to help the seed grow with strong stems and leaves.
“Ammonium Nitrate needs to be applied only on moist soil. After applying Ammonium Nitrate, the farmer needs to apply Calcium Nitrate and Potassium Nitrate for the betterment of the crop so that there are good yields,” he said.