Enhance winter tomato production, farmers urged

Enhance winter tomato production, farmers urged Small-scale farmers in frost free areas in Lowveld areas could maximise their land use through producing tomatoes closing the gap left by frost prone areas.
Patience Maturure

Agriculture Reporter

Small-scale farmers in frost-free areas have been encouraged to increase tomato production during the winter months, leveraging the consistent year-round demand for the crop.

While some areas experience challenging growing conditions due to high frost incidence, those in more favourable weather conditions can capitalise on this opportunity to enhance their yields and profits.

Fresh tomatoes are in demand all year-round and so by producing during the winter, farmers can meet the market needs when supply is lower; high peak demand and high selling prices.

In an interview Agritex chief extension specialist, Mr Innocent Shayamano highlighted that small-scale farmers in frost free areas in Lowveld areas could maximise their land use through producing tomatoes closing the gap left by frost prone areas.

He said transitioning to tomato production in winter would allow farmers to take advantage of the marketing opportunities, the low supply and firm prices and improved incomes.

“There are indeterminate and determinate varieties that are well-suited to farmers’ production model that are tolerant to pest and diseases and adapted to local conditions.

Farmers are encouraged to stake or trellis their tomato plants so that they grow well in a disease and pest free environment.

“The optimum growth temperatures range from 18-22 degrees and temperatures should not go below 12 degrees or above 36 degrees because these two extreme temperatures affect the growth of tomatoes.

“African ball worm, nematodes, spider mites, tuta absoluta, aphids and many more are pests likely to attack tomato plants and can be controlled through an effective Integrated Pest Management (lPM) programme that considers cultural, biological and chemical methods ,” he said.

Mr Shayamano said the optimal soil pH ranges from 5.5 to 6.5 and fertiliser recommendations depended on soil testing and analysis.

He encouraged farmers to take their soils for testing and analysis.

“For nursery bed making farmers are expected to do a standard bed with the width of between 100 to 120 centimetres, height of 10-15 centimetres, width can go up to 1m, and length depends on the hectarage to be covered and depending on the spacing the plant population vary from 10 000 to 25 000,” he said.

Farmers were urged to plant hybrid seeds to improve productivity and contribute to the country’s food and nutrition security.-herald