Online Reporter
Engineer Tapuwa Justice Mashangwa
Winter in Zimbabwe, typically extending from May to August, presents both opportunities and challenges for farmers.
While cooler temperatures reduce the pressure from certain pests and diseases, winter also brings risks associated with frost, low temperatures, reduced pasture growth, slower crop development, increased feed requirements, and water management challenges.
Farmers who understand these seasonal dynamics and prepare adequately can maintain productivity and profitability throughout the cold season, especially in common project areas such as horticulture, grain production, mushroom cultivation, fisheries, beekeeping, livestock, fruit and nut production, and poultry farming.
Winter is a productive season for many vegetables in Zimbabwe, particularly brassicas and leafy greens. However, several risks require careful management.
Farmers in frost-prone areas such as Nyanga, Juliasdale, Marondera, Macheke, Murehwa, and parts of Matabeleland should monitor frost forecasts closely. Frost can damage seedlings, leaves, flowers, and fruits, reducing both yield and quality.
Protective measures include installing frost cloths or row covers, using greenhouse production where possible, irrigating before anticipated frost events and avoiding planting frost-sensitive crops in low-lying areas.
It is advisable for farmers to adjust fertilizer programmes accordingly, avoid excessive nitrogen application, monitor crop development carefully and ensure adequate soil moisture levels.
Winter crops require less water than summer crops, but farmers should avoid over-irrigation, which can encourage root diseases and nutrient leaching. Regular soil moisture monitoring is essential.
Certain fungal diseases thrive under cool, moist conditions; thus farmers should watch out for downy mildew, powdery mildew, grey mould (botrytis) and black rot in brassicas. The best way to detect these diseases is through regular scouting, with preventive fungicide programmes remaining critical.
Winter vegetables often attract premium prices. Farmers should identify buyers before planting and stagger production to avoid market gluts.
Although winter is not Zimbabwe’s main grain-growing season, farmers planting wheat, barley, and winter maize should remain vigilant.
Winter wheat production
Winter wheat requires careful management to maximize yields. Farmers should be knowledgeable enough to examine uniform germination, irrigation scheduling, nitrogen top-dressing timing and weed infestations.
Failure to irrigate adequately during critical growth stages can significantly reduce yields.
Irrigated winter grain production depends heavily on reliable water supplies. Pumps should be inspected regularly, while irrigation equipment should be serviced on time. Dam and borehole water levels should be monitored, with water allocation being planned carefully.
As wheat heads emerge, bird populations can cause significant losses. Bird-scaring strategies should be implemented before damage becomes severe.
Mushroom production
Winter also offers favourable conditions for mushroom cultivation, but management remains important. Most mushroom varieties perform best within specific temperature ranges.
Farmers are advised to monitor growing room temperatures, prevent excessive cooling during cold nights, and ensure growing houses are adequately insulated.
Mushroom farmers should also ensure that they maintain humidity levels between 80 percent and 95 percent as low winter humidity can reduce yields.
They should also ensure regular misting schedules to promote moisture management.
Ventilation should also be of high quality to discourage diseases and improve mushroom quality.
Farmers should watch out for green moulds, bacterial blotch and fungal contamination. Strict hygiene standards remain essential throughout winter.
Fish farming
Fish farming faces unique challenges during winter.
Fish metabolism slows down as water temperatures declines. Cold temperatures can affect pond ecology, thus farmers should adjust feeding rates, avoid overfeeding and monitor feed conversion efficiency. Overfeeding wastes feed and deteriorates water quality.
Water quality management is crucial in fish farming. Fishery participants should monitor oxygen levels, water pH, ammonia concentrations and water clarity.
When it comes to predator control, winter often brings increased bird activity around fish ponds. Farmers should strengthen netting systems, fencing and pond security measures.
Another fact farmers need to be aware of is that temperature fluctuations can weaken fish immunity. It is therefore important for farmers to observe fish daily for signs of disease or abnormal behaviour.
Bee keeping
Winter is a critical management period for beekeepers.
Weak colonies may struggle to survive cold conditions, thus beekeepers should inspect hive populations, combine weak colonies where necessary, and ensure queen performance remains satisfactory.
One of the biggest winter risks for bees is starvation, therefore farmers should ensure colonies have adequate honey reserves, supplemental feeding where required and access to clean water.
When it comes to winter, cold winds can also stress colonies. Hives should be protected by positioning them away from strong winds, providing windbreaks and ensuring proper hive insulation.
Beekeeping pest and disease monitoring involves watching out for hive beetle, wax moths, varroa mites and ant infestations. Routine inspections remain important, even during reduced bee activity.
Engineer Tapuwa Justice Mashangwa is the CEO for DataFarm and Emerald Agribusiness. He can be contacted on +263771641714 and email: [email protected] or [email protected].
