The ManicaPost
Emmah Chinyamutangira Post correspondent
HEAVY rains that poured in Manicaland this week have raised hopes of improved yields among farmers.
This is despite the fact that the amount of rainfall received since the beginning of the planting season remains lower than that recorded during the same period in previous seasons. Manicaland had by Wednesday this week received 110mm of rainfall compared to double the amount recorded the same period last season.
Agritex said this week that only 40 percent of farmers in Manicaland had planted crops this season, an indicator that the province is likely to harvest less than it requires to feed the growing population.
About 60 percent of farmers in the province had planted by this time last season.
“About 40 percent of farmers have planted and the percentage is expected to increase as planting continues,” said Agritex provincial head Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa.
She said rains which started on Wednesday had brought hope among farmers, whose crops had been affected by high temperatures over the past three weeks.
“After a prolonged dry spell which hit the province for the past three weeks and left the crop at wilting point, farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief. About 40 percent of farmers planted with the early rains in December and we are hoping that the wet spell and moisture will continue so that the hectarage increases to boost food security,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
She urged farmers to plant short season varieties.
“Indications are that we are going to have less yields this season due to unfavourable climatic conditions and high costs of inputs, which are limiting farmers to produce on a large scale,” she said.
