Dry plant but avoid wetlands and streambanks – experts

Ashton Mutyavaviri

EXPERTS in agriculture say farmers can go ahead and start dry planting in readiness for the rainy season that may set in any time soon but must avoid doing so on wetlands or river banks, as this has dire effects on the environment.

Agricultural activities on wetlands and river banks have been largely blamed for water pollution and siltation of water bodies.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) secretary general Mr Paul Zakariya urged those farmers doing dry planting to incorporate sustainable methods such as mulching to enhance moisture trapping and boost the soil’s organic composition.

“There are indications that the rains may be coming in the next few days, so those who are dry planting are doing so with that knowledge. It is common practice for people to do dry planting around this time every year. If you plant your seed at the appropriate time you are likely to catch the early rains and you will have good yields,” said Mr Zakariya.

He added that it was not something, which all people should do, but something decided by conditions in the different agro-ecological regions in which farmers are situated.

He also urged Government through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to work closely with city authorities to enforce by-laws, which prohibit cultivation activities along stream banks and in wetlands.

Said Mr Zakariya: “Before we promote agricultural activities in urban and peri-urban areas, we need to be very clear on the issue of wetlands and river banks because such activities will disturb our water ways and may eventually see boreholes not yielding.”

It would be important to have clear by-laws that prohibit planting in wetlands and along river valleys with the laws religiously enforced to make sure there are high levels of compliance, he explained.

Mr Zakariya further observed that it would be sensible for city council and the Government to come up with clear guidelines on how to utilise the open spaces that are in the urban areas so that farmers do not disturb the environment.

Stream bank cultivation should be prohibited so that we conserve water and allow our rivers to thrive, he added.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe concurred saying farmers doing dry planting were heeding experts’ advice so they needed to do so paying close attention to the fact that the rainfall pattern for the season could be highly unpredictable, thanks to the forecast El Nino weather.

“At one time we were told El-Nino would be harsh before we were then informed it had weakened but this does not change the fact that it could come and affect agriculture. It is important therefore for farmers to stagger their planting dates as a way of mitigating possible harsh effects,” he added.

He urged the farmers not to plant all their crops at one go.