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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
INCESSANT rains coupled with heavy winds currently being experienced across the country pose a threaten to the expected yield in some parts of Hurungwe, Makonde and Zvimba districts.

Prospects of good harvests have been diminished as flooding destroyed large tracts of farming land, opening gullies in the fields, while stunted growth of crops has been recorded. Deposition of huge silts in both fields and water bodies has also created future problems for the farmers.
The rains have also damaged the road network system in the two districts thereby crippling transportation of farming inputs while high levels of leaching have been reported across the province.

Some wards in Makonde district including Ward 6, 11, 14, 15, 16 and 19 have also seen farmers losing infrastructure to the ravaging winds with Mainga tobacco community barn in Ward 19 destroyed. Makonde district development coordinator and Civil Protection Unit chairperson, Mr Benjamin Zivanai said flooding and heavy rains were threatening good yield output.

“In some instances, prospects of good harvests have diminished after promising crops were destroyed as large tracts of farmland were flooded leaving gullies, rivulets and large deposits of silt. We received reports in most parts of the district were farmers have either lost or are on the verge of losing the crops to flooding.

“There is a challenge with farmers failing to conduct sustainable farming activities while those farming along Mupfure River bordering the district with Chegutu continue to be in perennial danger of being marooned as they farm on fertile islands along the river,” he said.

Zvimba Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Enias Chidakwa said the council’s civil protection unit was still assessing damages caused by the rains and flooding.

“We are still compiling reports of the damages caused but, we are reliably informed that some farmers have lost their crops to incessant rains. Some of our roads and bridges have also been affected by the rains and as a council, we are working to rehabilitate them to improve the movement of farmers,” Mr Chidakwa said.

Mashonaland West provincial acting Agritex head, Mrs Evelyn Ndoro was yet to receive and compile reports by yesterday but urged farmers to desist from stream bank cultivations and put contours in their fields to avoid gullies and large deposits of silt.

Mr Tozivepi Dzenge of Helwyn Farm in Karoi who lost part of his tobacco and maize crop to the floods said most farmers in the area were counting losses after their fields were destroyed by the rains.

“Most farmers’ crops were affected by flooding as leaching of fertiliser was high. Deposition of silt in both fields and water bodies is also high and threatens yield output and irrigation activities.”