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Runesu Gwidi-Masvingo Bureau
Huge tracts of vegetation totalling one million hectares are destroyed by veld fire in Zimbabwe yearly, says the Environmental Management Agency(EMA) and far more needs to be done to prevent veld fire.
Speaking during the briefing on the belated national field fire week commemorations held in Masvingo yesterday, EMA regional Manager for Masvingo Mr Milton Muusha said veld fire catastrophes have become a serious concern.
The national fire week is normally commemorated in the first week of May every year.
This year’s theme is : Veld Fires and Food Security-Protect Harvest The thrust of the theme is to encourage farmers to protect this year’s projected bumper crop harvest from destruction by veld fires and save lives, since more than 100 people have died in the last decade from veld fires.
Masvingo province saw vegetation on 10 859,23 hectares destroyed by veld fires last year, compared to 17 601,42ha in 2019 fire season, marking a significant drop of 6 742 hectares in terms of the area burnt.
Mr Muusha said reduction in the total hectarage of vegetation destroyed by veld fires was a result of comprehensive pre-fire suppression measures such as fire guards, biomass reduction techniques and use of fire equipment.
EMA conducted a familiarisation tour of two farms in Masvingo Rural with journalists, to appreciate the various veld fire suppression measures being taken by farmers. Veld fires management gives impetus to the National Development Strategy 1(NDS1).
Online Reporter