adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO expects a bumper harvest this year and the problem of food shortages is over with the Agritex department saying the province’s yields were enough to last up to next year. Deputy provincial Agritex officer Vincent Chihombori told delegates attending the Provincial Development Committee (PDC) meeting last week that all districts were poised for high yields following good rains.
“The province received enough rainfall that resulted in good crop yields for our farmers. Generally we have enough food that can take us to the next season following the heavy rains which saw even dry regions experiencing wet spells throughout the season,” said Chihombori.
He said the province’s eight districts, Gutu, Chivi, Mwenezi, Chiredzi, Bikita, Zaka and Masvingo Urban were looking forward to a good harvest.
“In Masvingo urban 49,000 hectares were put under maize crop, 48,000 under groundnuts, 303,000 under sunflower and 181 under rice. All the crops are ripe and most farmers are already harvesting. The trend is similar in most districts,” said Chihombori.
He said Chivi, Mwenezi and Chiredzi, which are generally dry regions, were notable districts that would experience good harvests save for isolated areas that were hit by floods resulting in waterlogging.
“We had floods in Chivi especially wards near Tokwe-Murkosi Dam and this saw many farmers losing their crops to water logging. Most crops were submerged in water due to incessant rains. We all know of the Tokwe-Murkosi flood disaster which saw about 3,000 families losing their livestock and crops,” said Chihombori.
He said about 200,000 hectares under maize crop were affected by flooding and that some districts were affected by the outbreak of pests and diseases.
“We have a bigger portion put under maize crop that was destroyed by floods in Chivi District following the Tokwe-Murkosi flooding.
“Parts of Mwenezi, Chiredzi and Chivi were affected by the outbreak of foot and mouth with crops being attacked by the army worm but the situation is now under control. The pastures for livestock are relatively good following good rains,” said Chihombori.
derick.khumalo