Zimbabwe's Corn Harvest Jumps

WASHINGTON - Apr 4/06 - SNS -- Zimbabwe will almost double the size of its corn crop this season, with output advancing from 500,000 to almost 900,000 metric tons (MT). Even so, the country faces another food deficit after the harvest in May 2006, reports the U.S. agricultural attache for the country.

The corn crop that was planted early, (November and December, 2005), is nearing maturity or in the case of short season varieties has already matured but still has to dry.

Rainfall in most parts of the country has been normal to above normal with the exception of the southeastern and southern parts of the country (Manicaland, Masvingo and Matebeleland South provinces) that experienced a long dry spell in February and March, reducing prospects of good harvests in these areas. Most of the late-planted crops in the drought stricken areas have reached permanent wilting point and will not recover. These provinces also experienced the driest spell last season.

Shortage of inputs (seed, fertilizer and chemicals), shortage of labor for weeding particularly on the smaller commercial farms, leaching of nutrients and a controlled price and market for the commodity, all conspired to lower production this season. Insecurity of land tenure is a major constraint to long-term developments and investments on the farms. The government is yet to give security of tenure to beneficiaries of the land reform program.

Corn availability was erratic throughout the country. Consequently, corn flour was only occasionally available in urban and rural retail outlets.

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