Chronicle Editor
Nonsikelelo Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
SEVERAL horticultural farmers across the country are counting their losses after their crops were affected by the frost conditions being experienced.
The country has been experiencing a cold spell that has seen the Meteorological Services Department saying in some areas minimum temperatures plummeted to zero leading to ground frost. Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union executive director Mr Paul Zakariya said a number of farmers were affected especially those in the horticulture industry.
“Frost definitely of late has been causing havoc on most crops and there are numerous reports of ground frost that had affected several crops across the country and many farmers lost a significant portion of their crops. I urge farmers to visit Agritex officers for further agronomic information,” said Mr Zakariya.
In an interview, Matabeleland North provincial principal agronomist Mr Davison Masendeke highlighted the natural effect frost has on crops and possible solutions against it.
“We as a province are frost-prone except for parts of Binga and Hwange. The current low temperatures might result in frost. Another challenge is that as farmers, we are not in the habit of insuring our crops which we need to seriously consider, we also encourage farmers to collaborate with the Meteorological Services Department so that they get weather updates accordingly,” he said.
A farmer who owns a plot in Kensington in Bulawayo Mr Perfect Mushonga said he lost a hectare of tomatoes to frost last week.
“I lost my entire one hectare of tomato crops. I have been watering the crops every day to avoid frost but to no avail. Considering that the tomatoes were close to the maturity stage, this is a huge loss,” he said.
Mr Masendeke also advised farmers to water their crops in the morning and evening, adding that farmers also need to embrace technology such as greenhouses.
“I encourage farmers to open up sprinkler systems for about 30 minutes in the morning hours around 3am. This changes the ambient temperature. You can also hang open water bottles 10cm above crops. As the water cools it releases heat. We don’t encourage the burning of tyres, grass, etc as they contribute to global warming,” said Mr Masendeke
He said farmers could also reduce the damage of crops to frost by growing crops that are less susceptible to frost in winter.
“The most affected crops are tomatoes, potatoes, butternut, rape, and summer cabbage. Avoid growing frost-prone crops in winter,” he said
Horticulture is Zimbabwe’s fifth-largest agricultural export earner, contributing 6,5 percent to the agricultural GDP.
Horticultural crops are mainly produced near major urban centres and along roads connected to urban settlements.
Online Reporter