Zimpapers Logo

Precious Manomano Herald Reporter

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has warned that 90 percent of the country’s arable land is at high to extreme risk of veld fires due to increased biomass as a result of the good rains received last season.

EMA publicity and education manager Ms Amkella Sidange said so far more than 250 000 hectares of land had been destroyed by fire this year.

She said farmers should guard against veld fires by constructing fireguards to reduce fire incidences.

As such, EMA has embarked on extensive education and awareness programmes to sensitise communities on veld fire management in an effort to prevent wildfires and protect lives, property and the environment.

Veld fires have become one of Zimbabwe’s greatest environmental challenges for the past decade, mostly affecting the farming community.

These are blazes that get out of control, become wild, and in the process kill people and destroy extensive tracts of forests, grasslands, animals and properties.

This burning has negative impacts on pastures, crop yields, soil fertility and the hydrological cycle.

“Actually, looking at the fire risk predicted for 2021, it showed that about 89 percent of the country is in the high to extreme high risk to veld fires owing to regeneration of biomass, especially as the result of heavy rains that we received in the 2020 to 2021 rainy season,” said Ms Sidange.

“This goes to show how vulnerable are our ecosystems to veld fires this year and it’s unfortunate the country has recorded over 500 fire incidences hat have destroyed over 200 000 hectares of land before the onset of the fire season.”

Zimbabwe is in a high risk category and an extreme risk category to veld fires due to heavy rains received during the 2020/21 season.

Last year, the country recorded 298 bush fires and lost 165 352,94 hectares to veld fires.

The fire season stretches from July 31 up to October 31 each year although late rains will extend that into November.

Veld fire prevention remains key in the achievement of the National Development Strategy 1 targets and overall protection of the environment, which is also pivotal in the achievement of Vision 2030.