Zimpapers Logo

Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
Crops in most parts of Chiredzi are now suffering from severe moisture stress following a prolonged dry spell, amid calls for the Meteorological Services Department to decentralise weather forecasting to give farmers accurate information about weather patterns in their areas. Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU)Masvingo provincial manager Mr Jeremiah Chimwanda yesterday said most farmers were struggling to make proper farming plans because of generalised weather forecasts by the MSD.

Mr Chimwanda said although Chiredzi was the worst affected by the prolonged dry spell, most crops across Masvingo Province, particularly the early planted maize, were showing signs of severe moisture stress. He said the MSD was supposed to make accurate weather forecasts to help farmers in their planning.

“The Meteorological Services Department told us to expect heavy rains or even floods last week, but surprisingly most parts of Masvingo did not receive any rains,” said Mr Chimwanda.

“This kind of generalised weather forecasting is not helping our agriculture sector because farmers cannot adequately plan. We have had many a situation where farmers would replant their crops after receiving information about impending rains by the Met Department, only for the rains not to come.”

Mr Chimwanda challenged the department to give farmers comprehensive weather forecasts, which is district-specific. “We cannot continue to operate and dream of expanding our agriculture if farmers are told about blanket weather forecasts that cover the whole province,” he said.

“Masvingo has seven districts and there is need for a weather forecast that is district-specific.” Mr Chimwanda said decentralisation of weather forecasting would significantly boost the country’s agriculture sector in the wake of changing weather patterns influenced by climate change.

A tour by The Herald of farms in Chiredzi District and other parts of south-eastern Lowveld showed that most crops, particularly maize, was suffering from severe moisture stress owing to a prolonged dry spell. Some farmers in the district said the situation was dire that even their livestock were now in danger of failing to get adequate pastures. Government has been encouraging farmers in low-rainfall receiving areas such as Chiredzi, Malipati and Mwenezi to shift and grow small grains that are drought-tolerant.