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Most farmers in the district are not expecting any harvest from the maize crop.
“I wish I had not sold most of my maize to the Grain Marketing Board. I never thought the situation would be so bad. If I had known there would be no rain this time around I would not have planted maize,” said Mrs Agnes Ngwabi, a seasoned farmer at the 50km peg along the Bulawayo-Kezi Road.
“I planted the first crop around November. All seemed well for a planting season but days passed by without any rain. I even opened up more space to put maize after recording a bumper harvest last year. The crop was good and this is in contrast to what I harvested. It is all hunger my son.
“As if I am cursed, wild animals caused havoc recently on my sunflower and bean crop. This has never happened before. Despite living close to Matopos National Park, wild animals have never been such a problem.”
When this reporter visited her field under beans, it was as if a mower had passed through. Only stumps could be seen of what remained of a sunflower crop. Her maize crop was a sorry sight.
Mrs Ngwabi said she did not know where to start especially after a string of good harvests. She has been practising zero tillage and relying on organic manure. She, however, said the cattle situation was pleasing as there were plenty of pastures and obviously the write-off crop would be stockfeed.
“The only disappointing thing in this area is the perennial veld fire. We do not know how to stop this,” said Mrs Ngwabi.
She said perennial fires have destroyed pastures and vast lands in the area.
Mr Joseph Ndiweni (62) also added his voice on the poor rainfall pattern.
“It is shocking to note how seasons are changing. One cannot plan like yester-year. Ukulima lezinsuku yikutshaya amakhasi (farming is gambling) these days especially if one relies on dry planting,” said Mr Ndiweni.
Mr Ndiweni had put maize crop, cowpeas, round and groundnuts under his six-hectare land. The maize crop is a disaster.
He complained about warthogs that have been causing havoc to an already written-off crop.
Mr Ndiweni said as farmers they have not experienced anything like what happened this past season.
“If this is what is called global warming, surely it is devastating. Sizaphela lonyaka,” he said shaking his head.
Mr Ndiweni urged the Government to intervene with food assistance as many people were affected.
Asked about veld fires, Mr Ndiweni was emotional about people who start veld fires.
“Uyazi mntanami abantu laba ngama Satanist. No matter how much one speaks bayaqhubeka betshisa iganga. Amadlelo asekho,” he said.
Mr Ndiweni said motorists were also culprits as they threw their stubs anywhere after smoking.
However, Mrs Pauline Nyathi did not bother replanting after all she planted was a write-off.
She said the area has always been receiving good if not average rainfall.
“We have not experienced anything like this over the years. This now means we have to wait for Government assistance. If not, sizakufa ngendlala” said Mrs Nyathi.
“At the moment siphila ngokuthengisa infe kodwa zizaphela. Some have managed to get groundnuts and sweet potatoes. However, after selling this produce, people will need food assistance to take them to the next harvest,” said Mrs Nyathi.
The southern parts of the country received less than 75 percent average rainfall since the start of the 2011-2012 rainy season, raising fears of another drought, the Meteorological Services Department said.
Since mid-January this year, rainfall activity has been largely concentrated towards the northern districts of the country.
Most people from areas which fall in the southern parts of the country are not expecting any meaningful harvest this year.
The districts in Matabeleland South are among the worst hit by drought this year after most of the maize crop was declared a write-off.
Online Reporter