Faith Ndou
CHIREDZI-As the rain season has started Chiredzi District, AGRITEX officer Tongai Bodi has advised farmers to carefully monitor rainfall patterns and avoid being misled by a potential false start to the 2025/26 farming season.
Bodi advised farmers to record rainfall consistently and only begin planting when at least 20mm of rain has fallen within a three-day period and is not followed by a 10-day dry spell.
He noted that while some areas may receive sufficient rainfall for crop germination, others may not due to the scattered and uneven nature of early rains across the district.
“In lighter soils, 20mm may be enough for germination, but heavier soils may require between 25 to 30mm,” Bodi explained, adding that a critical eye is needed to avoid planting prematurely.
He encouraged farmers to work closely with AGRITEX officers to receive real-time updates on weather patterns, pest threats and crop advisories.
“Let’s make use of the daily, three-day and 10-day forecasts available to us,” he said.
“Preparation now is key to a successful season,” Bodi said.
