adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
THE Meteorological Services Department of Zimbabwe has revealed that the summer cropping season has contracted by about 10 days as it is starting late and ending early in some parts of the country.Scientists have attributed the development to the effects of climate change.
Met Department cultural meteorological officer John Mupuro said rainy days have also been reduced due to the persistent dry spells which have been characterising the summer cropping season over the years.
“As a result of long dry spell episodes during the season, the rainy days are now fewer. The season length in some parts of the country has also decreased by an average of about 10 days.
“What we’ve seen so far basing on statistics is that whenever the rainy season starts late, then there will be a premature ending of the season. The season will also be accompanied by long dry spells as well as very intense rainfall,” he said.
Mupuro cited the southern parts of the country which fall under the Mzingwane catchment as some of the areas which have been affected by the phenomenon.
University of Zimbabwe lecturer in the Geography and Environmental Science department, Professor Amon Murwira, said in light of such developments, there was a need for more research to come up with short-season seed varieties to counter the effects of climate change.
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