By Cuthbert Mashoko
MWENEZI-Non-stop rains in Mwenezi are casting a dark cloud over the 2025-2026 farming season, with pre-harvest sprouting wiping out crops ready for harvesting.
The persistent rains, hitting just as grain crops are due for harvest, have left farmers counting their losses.
Crops that are due for harvest are germinating in the fields with no chance for farmers to harvest given the wet weather conditions.
Farmers in Mwenezi mainly grow small grain crops, rapoko, sorghum and millet since the district is characterised by low to normal rainfall and high temperatures. This season, crops were flourishing and promising, only for tables to over turn after the region received continous rains at a time when crops were due for harvest.
Headman Madhura of Zvomupungu ward 14 lamented the situation, arguing that this was going to plunge the district into a drought regardless of a farming season which had started well. “Our happiness had been cut short with these rains. As you can see the grain is sprouting. What was supposed to be a bumper harvest is heading to a big drought” bemoaned Headman Madhura.
Lucia Chiteme a mother of four from Limbigua Village expressed disappointment over the situation, highlighting the burden which food insecurity exerts on women. “As women we are really devastated by this situation. Here in Mwenezi we survive on agriculture. We sell our grain to send our children to school…..with this situation how are we going to manage?” queried Chiteme.
District Development Coordinator, Isaac Mutambara acknowledged that the situation was bad, highlighting that not all grain and hope was lost. “Yes, the rains have been persistent and have caused some damage to our expected yield but all is not lost, we pray that sooner rather than later the weather conditions will improve and give a chance to farmers to harvest their crops ” said Mutambara.
National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Lecturer Dr. Shadreck Ndinde hinted that the sad picture in Mwenezi was a result of the devastating effects of climate change. “The weather patterns are now very unpredictable due to climate change. There is need to adopt to smart agriculture mechanisms in order to cushion the communities from the devastating effects of Climate change ” hinted Dr Ndinde.
