Harare, (New Ziana) – Farmers in chief Svosve’s area in Mashonaland East province have expressed optimism of a bumper harvest following good rains during the festive area.
Their spirits had been dampened by a dry spell that hit the country in November which left most of their crops, mainly tobacco and maize suffering from moisture stress.
But the return of the rains has brought hope to several farmers in the area who are now anticipating a good harvest.
Emmanuel Mudavanhu of Mudavanhu village said he is expecting a bumper harvest if the rainfall pattern remains the same until March. “I have a good maize crop and I am just praying that the rainfall pattern remains the same until the end of February and the beginning of March,” he said.
He, however, expressed concern over the emergence of the armyworm which he attributed to the November dry spell. He said he was in the process of applying some pesticides to contain the marauding worm.
Mathew Mhlanga of Magorimbo village, who is predominantly into tobacco farming, said his crop suffered from the dry spell, but had now recovered as a result of the good rains received during the festive holiday.
Like Mudavanhu, Mhlanga said if the rains remain consistent, he is assured of a good harvest. He said optimism had also been boasted by stable fertiliser prices unlike in the past when these fluctuated widely beyond the affordability of farmers.
“My early crop has reached reaping stage and I am expecting to start harvesting after New Year. Although the crop was affected by the dry spell, I am expecting a good crop,” he said.
Titus Gunyere of Mupazviriho village, who is also into tobacco growing, paid tribute to the government for distributing farming inputs on time.
“I would like to thank our Government for releasing farming inputs, especially fertiliser as it helped me a lot in my venture,” he said.
The 29th Annual Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SACOF) forecasts that the bulk of Southern Africa Development Community region, including Zimbabwe, is likely going to receive normal to above normal rainfall between January and March 2025 except for south-western fringes of South Africa, south-eastern and western most of DRC, north-western Angola, Tanzania, Northern Zambia, northern Malawi, northern Mozambique and central western tip of Madagascar where normal to below normal rains are expected, including Comoros and Seychelles.
New Ziana
