adminSenior Reporter
THE Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development has embarked on the final crop and livestock assessment in Manicaland amid indications that the province faces food deficit while its pastures have improved owing to the latest rains.
It started on Wednesday in Chipinge and ends tomorrow.
The assessment came at a time Manicaland was facing food deficit after more than a third of the planted maize was written-off following a lengthy mid-season dry spell.
Manicaland put 199 000 hectares under maize – but the crop suffered immensely owing to a combination of late, erratic rains, current severe mid-season dry spell, overworked infertile soils and erratic application of fertilisers.
Agritex head for Manicaland Mr Godfrey Mamhare on Wednesday revealed that the situation in most communal parts was deplorable as the entire crop was a complete write off.
He said Manicaland will not produce enough to feed its growing population.
“We started on Wednesday with Chipinge and we hope to round off the programme tomorrow following which we will compile a report detailing our observation,” said Mr Mamhare.
An acute food crisis is obtaining in Manicaland as a result of poor rainfall that plagued the province this summer season.
Most farmers, especially communal ones with the highest contribution to the total area put under maize — are unlikely to harvest enough food to feed their families — let alone surplus to sell.
A survey by The Manica Post in Manicaland revealed that the province was facing a tremendous challenge in meeting food needs of its rapidly growing population as the bulk of its crop suffered severe moisture stress and the quality of the remnant crop was inferior.
The food crop wilted in the scorching heat and failed to reach maturity.
Mr Mamhare said nearly known drought prone areas have zero harvest.
Manicaland was characterised by limited water sources, scarce and unreliable rainfall that is concentrated during a short rainy season with the remaining period tending to be relatively or absolutely dry.
At most, these areas receive annual rainfall of 500m and high temperatures during the rainy season cause much of this rainfall to be lost through evaporation.
Besides being water deficient, dry lands of Manicaland which include the entirety of Buhera, Mutare districts, the larger parts of Chipinge, Buhera, Chimanimani, Nyanga, Mutasa and Makoni districts — are synonymous with exceptionally high summer day temperatures, low humidity, high run off and soil erosion.
These areas will record a zero harvest and will continue needing food aid.
“The will be no sufficient food in Manicaland, but the current rains have improved the late planted maize and pastures. Grazing pastures are in a good state, and that is good for livestock in the province,” said Mr Mamhare.
Online Reporter