adminTHE erratic rainfall patterns that have characterised Zimbabwe’s climate for some years now are a great cause for concern.
This has affected the country’s agricultural sector which heavily depends on rains to water crops. The ensuing phenomenon, a result of climate change, has brought panic among farmers as there is an impending drought.
It is increasing becoming evident that the country can no longer pin its hopes on good rains as evidenced by current climatic conditions and those of yesteryear.
Rain fall seasons have become short and unpredictable, making it hard for farmers to plan their activities. The result is poor yields.
Elsewhere in this issue we carry a story in which Manicaland has begun implementing an emergence programme to rehabilitate irrigation schemes in the province in a bid to mitigate against the effects of an expected drought.
It is refreshing to note that authorities have realised that irrigation farming is the way to go in the wake of incessant low rainfall patterns affecting the country.
Zimbabwe, Manicaland in particular, has several water bodies which will be helpful if their water is harnessed for irrigation farming.
However, before we go into the merits of irrigation development and rehabilitation, there is need to talk about short term plans that need to be put in place to save the society from the effects of a drought.
Firstly, there is need to ensure food security by way of importing maize to feed people. Mechanisms should be put in to ensure that the grain reaches the most affected parts of the country such as Buhera, Chipinge South, Chimanimani, Marange and Mutasa.
The Grain Market Board could have been granted the permission to import 230 000 tonnes of maize from Zambia, but what is more important is the distribution of the grain to households.
Past events have shown that in times of drought there are some people who utilize the situation to fatten their pockets. These anomalies usually crop up during the distribution process of the grain where some people end up stealing the consignment and later push it at the black market at exorbitant prices.
Zimbabwe needs about 1, 8 million tonnes to avert the crisis.
In the long run, the country must heavily invest in irrigation starting now.
To this end, Provincial Administrator, Mr Fungai Mbetsa, said responsible Government departments were working around the clock to implement emergency programme of rehabilitating dysfunctional schemes.
Notable schemes that will be urgently worked on include Bonde, Nyakomba, Marange, Nyanyadzi and Nenhohwe.
When we turn to irrigation farming there is need to equip farmers with the required know-how on how to effectively farm on small pieces of land.
It is no secret that the hectarage that will be put under irrigation farming is smaller than that of rain fall induced farming.
What it means is that for the farmers to produce more on small irrigated pieces of land they should be taught on ways of enhancing intensive farming.
So when the agriculture paradigm shifts from rain fall induced extensive farming to concentrated intensive irrigation farming, Government must prioritise the dissemination of appropriate information to equip farmers.
The country has an irrigation potential of 2, 2 million hectares and currently has some irrigation facilities on about 200 000 hectares.
We need to tap the remaining 2 million hectares as well as rehabilitate closed irrigation schemes.
This is the time to take out strategic papers from the drawers and implement them on the ground lest we suffer with great unused ideas.
Online Reporter