adminFarming Reporter
FARMERS in Manicaland breathed a sigh of relief at the decline in the amount of the rains this week — which gives them the chance to roll out critical agronomic activities as weeding, fertiliser and chemical application.
The province has been receiving incessant rains for the past month and the stoppage has brought hope among many farmers who had resigned to watching helplessly as their crop suffered leaching of nutrients.
The maize and tobacco crops in the province had turned yellow, a clear sign of leaching.
Additionally, the crop had been overgrown by weeds, which in turn harboured damaging pests and worms.
Most farmers interviewed this week said the incessant rains had made it impossible for them to work in the fields.
“The rains were continuous, and therefore not giving us a chance to work on the planted crop. We could not weed and apply fertilizer or chemicals to the planted crop. As a result the crop was yellowing. We are not saying the rains should go forever but that this stoppage is welcome as it allows us to work in the fields,” said Mr Shupikai Mvurumutiya, of Village R Old Resettlement in Odzi.
The Metrological Services Department forecast a decline in rains until next week.
A check by The Manica Post in the old resettlements around Odzi revealed that most fields, especially those with poor contours, were massively eroded and damaged by the rains.
Fields situated on slope land and near the streams were also not spared.The damage was enormous and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has a tall order to contain land degradation and deforestation in these areas.
Most old resettled farmers blamed the problem mainly on squatters.
These people were being illegally resettled by some rogue village heads — without the requisite land surveys, thereby creating an environmental catastrophe.
Farmers said they have raised the matter with officials from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement without any joy.
“There are more than 100 squatters here (Village R) alone. Some of them are practising stream bank cultivation, while others have converted areas reserved for pastures and mountains into fields and this has fuelled land degradation,” said Mr Tapuwa Utah from the same area.
Agritex officer for Manicaland Mr Godfrey Mamhare called for speed weeding, which he said was an important control method, as more rains are expected to pound the province.
The Met Dept has warned that more rains are expected to pound parts of the province next week, and farmers have been urged not to tire in their weeding, herbicide and fertiliser applications.
“The bulk of the crop, especially the one within the four-week category, was showing signs of leaching. A lot of nutrients were washed away, and farmers need to scale up the application of fertilisers and herbicides so that their crop can be healthier. The removal of weeds is useful because these unwanted plants compete with the crop for space, water and nutrients.
“Besides helping to get a healthier crop, weeding has some other advantages. It helps to alter the microclimate below the plants. Sun and wind can penetrate deeper in a weeded crop and reduce the humidity.
“This can have a positive impact on pest populations and some diseases. Weeding also helps to loosen the soil and water can infiltrate more rapidly and roots of the cultivated plants can develop in a better way,” he explained.
He urged farmers to continue planting, but cautioned them to prioritise short season varieties and small grains.
Mr Mamhare also warned farmers with the dry-planted tobacco crop to concentrate their efforts on weed and pests control, suckers and toppings removal to ensure maximum crop health.
Mr Mamhare warned tobacco farmers on the danger of cutting down traditional trees as wood to cure the gold leaf.
Online Reporter