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With only a few hectares of land having being planted so far and a short time frame available for the maize to reach maturity, farmers are in a dilemma.
Farmers do not know whether the rains falling this late will sustain their crops until they mature.
Zimbabwe’s rainy season normally ends in March and by this time most farmers would have planted their crops.
Agronomists said the delayed rains were more suitable for small grains than maize. They noted that the time frame left before the end of the rainy season is too short for maize to reach its maturity levels.
“It is now risky for people to grow maize. There is a need for very early maturing variety crops,” said Mr Davison Masendeke, the provincial agronomist for Matabeleland North.
“We encourage farmers to plant small grains. These small grains can withstand high temperatures and low rainfall.
“Most people have not planted their crops because of the delayed rains. We urge farmers to practice dry planting so that when the rain falls people will be prepared.
“However, some people are losing hope. This is a dire situation”.
He advised farmers not to rely much on weather reports because the climate continues to change.
“Farmers should listen to 10 day weather forecasts rather than one or two day weather patterns because we have had problems of climate change,” he said.
Mr Masendeke said food security in the country was likely to be improved if people come up with measures appropriate to suit climate change.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) first vice-president Mr Abdul Nyathi said regions which received little rainfall such as Matabeleland and some areas of Midlands and Manicaland should opt for small grains like rapoko, mhunga and sorghum.
“This is not the good time for farmers to grow maize. It is important to plant short-seasoned varieties like sorghum and rapoko. January is not a bad month for small grains as we hope that these rains will persist up until March,” said Mr Nyathi.
He said there was a need for farmers to come up with new approaches that conformed to the changing weather patterns.
Mr Nyathi said the country might be heading for another disaster where farmers will have poor harvests.
“We might experience a disaster. The harvest that we will get might not be enough to feed the nation, it might be only enough for home consumption,” he said.
The former president of the Zimbabwe Commercials Farmers Union (ZCFU) Mr Donald Khumalo supported the idea that farmers should grow small grain crops.
“It is a noble idea to grow short season crops. If the rain becomes persistent they can grow mid and short season variety seeds that will reach their maturity,” he said.
Mr Khumalo urged farmers to try irrigation. He said due to climate change, irrigation was the only permanent solution.
“We have in the past been calling on the Government to avail funds for irrigation schemes. Government must know that there is food security by ensuring that there is enough grain and beef. Grain and beef should be supported or funded simultaneously so that they add to the bread basket,” said Mr Khumalo.
He urged the Government to effectively support the agricultural sector as it will also help the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Supporting of the agricultural sector will assist the country to eradicate poverty and hunger which is part of the MDGs.
“Primary expenditure should go to agriculture as it will help revive the industry. By supporting cotton growers means clothing industry will be revived. This also means that people will get employment,” said Mr Khumalo.
ZFU’s Mr Nyathi said the failure by the Government to distribute farming inputs had also affected the farming season.
“The Government has not yet distributed the farming inputs. They had promised us that in October that they would distribute farming inputs but they have not yet done that.
“The Government’s failure to distribute inputs in time is holding farmers back again,” said Mr Nyathi.
The Ministry of Finance has been accused of allocating insufficient funds to the agricultural sector which is the backbone of the country’s economy.
Zimbabwe was once the bread basket of Southern Africa. In order for the country to retain its status, the Government should fully the support the agricultural sector.
Mr Masendeke advised farmers in parts of the country where they are yet to receive rainfall to practice zero tillage.
“In areas where that are yet to receive rainfall I strongly urge them to practice zero tillage as this will enable them to catch up with the season.
“If they were to attempt to plant crops using their cattle it would be futile as the cattle do not have the strength at the moment to draw ploughs.
“This is because they have been underfed due to drought and thus ploughing would take a long time if they were used,” he said.
Urban farmers who spoke to Chronicle said the expectation that they were going to have bumper harvests had been dashed by the late rains.
However, some said they did not like the idea of growing small grains.
“We are used to growing maize. We are afraid of experiencing new things. Planting at this time is a mere formality and we are not even sure whether we will harvest,” said Mrs Thandolwenkosi Moyo (34) of Emganwini.
Online Reporter