Online Reporter
FARMERS have been urged to continue practising rainwater harvesting for sustainable crop production and as a practical solution to moisture deficit.
The call comes as the Meteorological Service Department warned of a possible dry spell from Sunday to February 2.
Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services acting chief director Mr Leonard Munamati told The Sunday Mail Online that farmers must climate-proof their crops.
“Rainwater harvesting is the key mitigating method to the effects of climate change.
“Conserve moisture through mulching. All Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots must be mulched.
“Those with more hectares can come in with a ripper inter-row to improve infiltration,” he said.
“Small-scale conventional farmers can also come in with an ox-drawn cultivator. Digging infiltration pits within their plots is a useful method of water harvesting. Farmers must employ various other water harvesting techniques.”
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe said the current season shows why Government should accelerate its dam construction projects.
“As farmers continue applying experts’ advice on how to preserve moisture in their fields, this is a season that calls on the Government to act with speed in completing high-impact dam projects.
“With climate change upon us, it is clear that the future of successful agriculture now lies in irrigation,” said Dr Makombe.
In its January 17 advisory, the MSD warned of a prolonged dry spell which will start from Sunday, as “… there may be a change of the length of the mid-season dry spell …”
