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Forward Makasi
ZIMBABWE, like other countries around the world, 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; for example, activities like burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, agricultural practices, waste management and chemical use activities.
These activities lead to increase in greenhouse gas emissions, leading to the global warming and climate change.
Climate change has significant impacts on agriculture. It affects both the productivity and sustainability of farming systems.
Some of the key impacts include pest and disease pressure — warmer temperatures can expand the range and lifecycle of pests and diseases, leading to increased pests and diseases; temperature changes — higher temperatures can stress crops, reduce yields and alter growth seasons; in some regions, longer seasons, and, in some regions, shorter seasons.
During the 2023/24 summer cropping season, Zimbabwe faced a serious drought, which led to total crop failure in many parts of the country. The drought was induced by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which is characterised by the periodic warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean.
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.
As CP Chemicals Pvt Ltd, to further strengthen our adaptive capacity as a nation, we are promoting the 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 defined as any chemical 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 raving 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 that 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 of 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 products 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 preventatives (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 key in crop production, especially in rainfall limited production systems. We noticed the high demand of Ethephon 48 SL, a growth regulator which has several uses in the 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 — Branch 112 Seke Road; ZAS Showgrounds, and a branch in Bindura, Mvurwi, Karoi and Chegutu. Delivery arrangements can be made everywhere in Zimbabwe.
We have several agronomists available to provide after-sales 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.
Forward Makasi is an agronomist. Feedback: sales and marketing manager +263 776113459, [email protected]; agronomy @cpchem.co.zw; [email protected]
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