shloboe boe
Forward Makasi, CP Chemicals Agronomist
LIKE all other countries around the world, Zimbabwe is not spared from the devastating effects of climate change.
Climate change is the long-term statistical distribution of weather pattern ranging from decade to millions of years.
Human activities contribute significantly to climate change systems, activities like burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, agricultural practices, waste management, and chemical use activities.
These lead to increase in greenhouse gas emissions leading to the global warming and climate change with significant impacts on agriculture.
This affects both the productivity and sustainability of farming systems. Some of the key impacts include; i) Pest and disease pressure — warmer temperatures can expand the range and lifecycle of pests and diseases, leading to increased pests and diseases ii) Temperature changes — Higher temperatures can stress crops, reduce yields and alter growth seasons, in some regions longer seasons and in some regions shorter seasons.
Adaptation strategies are essential to mitigate the devastating impacts including the sustainable use of agrochemicals, and adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies as a crop protection strategy.
To further strengthen our adaptive capacity as a nation, CP Chemicals Pvt Ltd is promoting sustainable use of agrochemicals to mitigate the havoc caused by pests in crop production as a result of climate change.
Agricultural chemicals simply referred to as agrochemicals are used in agriculture including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, soil fumigants, seed treatment chemicals, growth regulators and fertilisers.
Sustainable use is defined as the use of resources in a way and at a rate that does not lead to long term degradation of the environment, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.
As a result of climate change, weed and insect pests are continuously becoming a problem to crop production. The pests are evolving and adapting to the changing climate at a faster rate than cultivated crops.
In the recent past we observed the occurrence of a problematic lepidopteran pest in maize and cereal production Fall Armyworm (FAW), which is causing havoc in maize production in Zimbabwe.
Leafminer (Tuta absoluta), a problematic insect in tomato production, an increase in Diamond Back Moth populations, a problematic leaf eater in brassicas. Generally, pest incidences increased significantly.
As CP Chemicals we have a wide range of chemical products that can be used to control these menacing pests namely Volt Star 70 EC, Pilau 200 SC, Elegant Prime 100 EC, Spear 1.92 EC, Horizon 46 SC, Acephate 75 SP, Dichlorvos 1000 EC, Acetamiprid 20 SP, Dimethoate 40 EC and Diazinon 30 EC among other insecticides in effective formulations and at affordable prices.
The promotion of sustainable use of these chemical products will go a long way in ensuring a food secure Zimbabwe.
Weeds are a serious pest, which is becoming a problem mainly because of climate change.
We are noting the development of new weed species with the characteristics more adaptable to varying weather patterns than crops.
Weeds compete for nutrients, moisture, and sunlight with the desired crops, thereby reducing yields.
To conserve the now limited resources moisture and nutrients in the soils the use of herbicides is key, as they timeously eliminate the weeds.
In our herbicide basket we have Natto 260 0D, Striker Star 210 SL, Atrazine 50 SC, Nicosulfuron 75 WG, Clomazone 48 EC, Broom 537.5 EC, Bentazone 48 EC, Fuzifop 12.5 EC, Firefox75 WDG, among other herbicides.
These are found in effective formulations and at affordable prices. Fungal diseases and pathogens are also increasing as a result of Climate change. We recently encountered the new wheat rust strain.
We have the wide range of fungicides for the control of fungal diseases, we have a bunch of preventative (Mancozeb 80 WP, Copper oxychloride 85 WP and Chlorothalonil 500 SC and many more and curative like Supertop 32.5 EC, Blight Cure 72 WP, Tebuconazole 250 EC, Caliper 360 EC and many more fungicides.
Plant growth regulators are also a key in crop production especially in the rainfall limited production systems, we noticed the high demand of Ethephon 48 SL a growth regulator, which have several uses in regulation of crop growth, including tobacco leaf ripening enhancement, lodging control in cereals and ripening control in tomatoes and other fruit trees.
As CP Chemicals we are available to assist the farmer to get the best product and best out of our product.
We are a member of Croplife Zimbabwe, a board which regulates the use of agrochemicals.
We are located at Mt Hampden Business Park, 16,5 km peg, Lomagundi Road, Harare. We also have two other branches in Harare, Graniteside Branch 112 Seke Road, Graniteside, ZAS Showgrounds, and a Branch in Bindura, Mvurwi, Karoi, and Chegutu, and delivery arrangements can be made everywhere in Zimbabwe.
We have a number of agronomists available to provide after sale service to our esteemed customers.
We are also available on social media platforms; WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, X, and LinkedIn, on all those platforms we engage with different farmers requests.
Online Reporter