Farmers urged to start planting

Charity Ruzvidzo Chronicle Reporter
The Meteorological Services Department has advised farmers in the southern parts of the country to start planting with the early rains this month following forecasts of above normal rainfall in the country.

The department encouraged those in the northern parts to increase hectarage under crops and urged the government to embark on cloud seeding in the second half of the rainy season between January and March as it predicted that most parts of the country would have significantly reduced rainfall in that period.

“Farmers in most of the southern region are most likely going to experience a short season hence planting with the first rains is encouraged, staggering plants and an option for small grains would be encouraged,” reads a statement on the department’s official website.

According to the seasonal rainfall forecast Matabeleland is set to receive normal to above normal rainfall between October and December.

“Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South, Midlands, will receive normal rainfall to above normal rainfall. The period October to December is expected to have rainfall which is normal to above normal in the whole country,” adds the statement.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president Wonder Chabikwa said farmers had already started preparations for the season.

“Farmers have already begun preparations for the planting season which starts in October. We’re happy about the seasonal prediction, as farmers we’re going to work hard and produce enough for the nation,” he said.

Chabikwa said the shortage of inputs was a problem for farmers.

“Indeed rainfall is predicted to be normal to above normal but the issue of inputs continues to be a challenge. Recently seed maize prices were increased, a situation that discourages farmers,” he said.

The rainfall pattern is expected to change in January to March next year.

“The situation is expected to change in January to March next year for Matabeleland North and South, Bulawayo and Midlands as they’ll have reduction in precipitation during the last part of the season. The rainfall is expected to be mostly in the normal category with a bias towards the below normal,” the Met Department statement reads.

Harare, Mashonaland East, West and Central, Kadoma, Kwekwe and Manicaland are expected to remain with normal to above normal rainfall.

The department warned people against selling grain that they harvested this year. Zimbabwe realised a huge harvest after the country received normal to above normal rainfall.