The Sunday Mail
Harmony Agere
Farmers with access to irrigation water can start planting now given the prevailing moisture availability, suitable temperature thresholds and an anticipated early start of the rainfall season, meteorological experts have said.This was revealed by the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) in its 2016-2017 rainfall season outlook which also predicted a good rainy season which could start as early as two weeks from now in the low veld.
As such, farmers who rely on rains in Matabeleland South, Masvingo, Midlands and southern districts of Manicaland provinces have been urged to have all their inputs in place by the end of this month so as to plant early.For the rest of the country the season may begin end of October.
“There is a high likelihood of an early start of the season for the whole country, with significant rains as early as late September 2016 in the southern areas of the Zimbabwe,” said MSD principal meteorologist, Ms Vimbai Mamombe.
“In view of the moisture availability and suitable temperature thresholds, those with water should not wait for the main rains to fall. They can plant any time now.”
And coming from the difficult El Nino-induced drought, experts say emphasis should be placed on early planting since rains may subside between November and December for Regions I and II.
According to the outlook, after normal to above normal rains for the whole country between October and December 2016, the weather may gravitate to drier conditions between November and December for Regions I and II.
The trend will persist for Region II between December 2016 and January 2017 while Region III may enjoy a good season as it is expected to receive normal to above normal rainfall for the first half of the season.
According to MSD this implies that: “Inputs, including small grains, should be distributed by the end of September 2016 in Matabeleland South, Masvingo, Midlands and southern districts of Manicaland and by the end of October for the rest of the country.”
Also, as part of preparations for the early season experts say incentives for maize production in support for Command Agriculture should be announced as soon as possible, rather than wait until the middle of the season.
And mindful that many communal farmers lost cattle during the 2015-16 drought, stifling animal-drawn ploughing capability, experts say there is need to allocate some tractors and associated implements to the farmers.
This has increased pressure on Government and farmers as they are left racing against time to beat the early start of the season and capitalise on the good season.
Indications are that many farmers do not yet have adequate funds and inputs to commence cropping.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president, Mr Wonder Chabikwa, said despite indications that
the season could start soon preparations were going at a lackadaisical pace.
“We are all eagerly waiting for the season because we have been told that it will be good,” he said. “But the truth is that things are not going very well. Most farmers are yet to get inputs while lack of funding has become a major problem. Banks have completely turned their backs on us because they say we are a risky sector.
“For those in command agriculture the situation is better but for many of us it’s not looking good there is need for more effort from Government.”
Minister of Finance, Hon Patrick Chinamasa, in his mid-year fiscal review said preparations for the cropping season are going well with large sums of money having already been advanced for mechanisation and inputs.
“Preparations for the forthcoming summer cropping season are already underway and Government, in consultation with the private sector, is working on the respective financing arrangements,” he said.
“The forthcoming programme targets to put 2,25 million hectares under crop production at an estimated cost of over $1,5 billion. Mr Speaker Sir, intervention programmes benefitting livestock are also in place, and are estimated to require some $500 million”
Minister Chinamasa also said command agriculture which is expected to produce at least two million tonnes of maize on 400 000 hectares of land is going well. He said 310 000 hectares have already been identified for this project.
Be that as it may, after years of successive droughts Zimbabwe now has a chance to rebuild its stocks by capitalising on the anticipated good season.
It will be pretty much the case with the whole of Southern Africa as Zimbabwe’s outlook dovetails with that of Southern Africa Regional Outlook Forum (SARCOF) which predicted good rains for the region.
This also brings out the need for regional integration for strategic planning where food security is concerned.
It is also critical that the region works together in terms of improving irrigation and water harvesting.
This is taking, for instance, the case of Zimbabwe and Zambia who rely on Zambezi River for power generation, fisheries and tourism. The management and harvesting of water in this water body is critical for both these countries and their coming together in discussing the problem areas in light of the coming season is critical.
In Zimbabwe the outlook implies that the policies of small dam construction and borehole drilling, conservation and protection of wetlands should continue, more so in the Southern Provinces of the country.
This year agricultural output plunged 4,2 percent due to the El Nino-induced drought and Government will be looking to boost the sector this season.
