MIDWEEK REPORTER
Farmers in Mutare are becoming worried as the dry spell continues with crops showing signs of moisture stress, The Midweek Watch has learnt.
Most of the maize fields in Mutare District are now depending on supplementary irrigation to ensure reasonable harvests.
The maize crop which is at tasseling and grain filling stage has been severely affected by the dry spell.
Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS) Manicaland Director, Philippa Rwambiwa highlighted that most of the crops rated as fairly good could be saved, if the rains come now.
“The early planted crop is at tasseling stage, while the bulk of the crop is at vegetative stage, having been planted around mid-December to mid -January.
“The crops are between fair to good based on the recent crop assessments carried out a week ago. However, the dry spell is impacting negatively on the crop. Some of the crop is starting to wilt and in great need of the water,” she said.
Rwambiwa added that top dressing in the province has been hampered by the dry spell.
“Farmers are currently controlling fall armyworm and weeding. Fall armyworm increases in dry times. We do not recommend farmers to apply top dressing fertilizer until it rains otherwise, they will burn the crops,” she said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) Manicaland Province manager, Maxwell Gwatiringa said rains could resuscitate most of the crop though drought prone areas are to expect reduced yields.
“We have not received rains for some weeks now and in heavy clay and sandy soils, crops are experiencing day wilting due to prolonged hot spells but in the evening and morning they look okay.
“These are just signs of moisture stress but we hope the country will receive rains in the next few days. The crop can only be resuscitated if we are to have rains soon. However, the yields will be reduced. If it doesn’t rain the crop will be a write-off,” said Mr Gwatiringa.
As farmers were given fair warning on the El-nino induced drought this season, some are referring nostalgically to the ‘good old days’ when weather patterns used to be dependable and the start of the planting season unambiguous.
Today’s climate has deviated from the past, the seasonal cycle, rainfall, and weather patterns have changed due to climate change- occasioning frequent droughts, crop pest and disease incidences.
