The Sunday News
Business Reporters
AT least half of the crop planted in the Matabeleland region is now a write-off, as experts and community leaders warn that there is need to put immediate drought mitigation strategies to ensure food is availed to the people in the areas.
In Matabeleland South, experts said only five percent of the crop planted in the 2014/15 farming season were in good condition while the rest was either wilting or now a write off.
In Matabeleland South, 104,695 hectares were put under maize crop compared to last season’s 127,239 ha representing a 17 percent drop.
The province had also planted 52,981 ha of small grains compared to last year’s 56,014 ha representing a five percent decline.
Speaking during a drought relief subcommittee meeting in Gwanda Town, the provincial Agritex officer Mr Judiya Ncube said only five percent of the crop planted this season was in a good state while 45 percent was already a write off. The rest was now approaching wilting point.
“The year is quite bad and there is no doubt about that. Rainfall distribution was poor in all districts and rainfall was characterised by isolated thunder showers. To date, the province received far below normal rainfall. The bulk of the crop is a write off,” Mr Ncube said.
Statistics availed by the Agritex department show that Beitbridge district is the most affected area, with 80 percent of the crop now a write off while 20 percent was wilting, a situation likely to see farmers in the district failing to harvest anything.
Gwanda district follows with 79 percent of the crop now a write off, 19 percent wilted and only two percent in fair condition.
He said the early crop was badly affected by the hot temperatures while state of late planted the crop was subject to change depending on the weather conditions.
In Matabeleland North, Agritex officials said at least 60 percent of maize planted in the province was a write although they refused to give exact figures on the hectares planted and affected as there was still an ongoing crop assessment programme.
“In some parts of Umguza it’s now 43-60 days with no rainfall. A majority of maize which was planted in December has been affected by moisture stress and about 60 percent of it is now write off. Most of the maize was now at the reproduction stage,” said the provincial Agritex officer Mr Dumisani Nyoni.
He said the maize planted in January had initially shown a lot of promise but was also affected by the long dry spell.
“We were expecting that the maize that was planted in January is going to do better but it’s now suffering from moisture stress and stunting. Most of the maize was now at tasseling stage where it needs water but it’s not there and this is compromising pollination and grain development,” he said.
Meteorological Service Department manager for Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport office Mr Rogers Munyira said the rain season in the Matabeleland region was now over and farmers should not expect any meaningful rainfall.
“We are now in mid-March and effectively for both Matabeleland North and South region or I can say in Region 4 and 5 the rainy season is over and we are not going to realise any substantial rainfall coming other than just some drizzle which is possible next week (this week),” said Mr Munyira.
Matabeleland South provincial administrator Mr Midard Khumalo said the crop situation was bad hence the need to start planning for a drought.
“This presents a grim picture of the province. We need to think quickly and seriously about what needs to be done. This shows an extremely eroded resilience of the province,” he said.
Villagers in Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North said there was no hope that they will harvest anything this year.
Village head for Dimbuko in Ward 11 Mr Nkululeko Dube said the situation was terrible as some of the people in area were already facing food shortages.
“It has not rained here since January, we have no hopes of any harvest. The situation is bad, we are now praying for water for the people and the animals. We are appealing to the Government and the donor community who have assisted us before to come to our rescue,’’ said Dube.
Member of the House of Assemly representing Tsholotsho South Cde Zenzo Sibanda said in light of the dire situation the Government needed to assist villagers with food.
“We have a tough situation before us, we are appealing to Government to put some of the programmes on hold and channel more resources to assist people with food,’’ said Cde Sibanda.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union Matabeleland North provincial chairman, Mr Winstone Babbage said the long last solution to drought was to invest in irrigation infrastructure.
“The crops are wilting. There is need for farmers to put up irrigation so that they are able to irrigate the crops during long dry spell like this. The Government should speed the distribution of irrigation equipment that we heard was sourced from Brazil. The equipment should be given to the farmers,” said Mr Babbage.
“We need to practice smart agriculture for us to realise some harvest,” he said.
