Pfumvudza to the rescue

temperatures which are ruining crops, especially maize, before reaching maturity.

Deficient rains are the primary reason for the current crop situation in most parts of the province where the rainy season started late followed by long dry spells and above-average temperatures, resulting in the loss of most crops.

Due to the dryness associated with high temperatures in February, the crop condition has deteriorated to permanent wilting point at a time poor households lack food reserves from last season.

This has prompted Government and its partners to immediately roll out food distribution for the 2023/24 lean season to 461 325 people whose livelihoods have been decimated by the prevailing climatic conditions in Manicaland.

Mutare is the hardest hit district, with 134 431 people in urgent need of food aid; followed by Chipinge (111 523), Buhera (96 682), Makoni (56 511), Chimanimani (34 274), Mutasa (14 974) and Nyanga (12 925) in the first phase.

Demand for food aid is expected to gradually increase as households that still have green foods like pumpkins, cassava, sweet potatoes, watermelon, cowpeas and green maize, in addition to wild foods, will become food insecure and join the queue.

Additionally, the price of grain on the informal market is going up, with a bucket costing between US$8 and US$12, further reducing the purchasing power of food insecure households.

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) forecasted that between now and March 12, a heatwave with temperatures rising to 41 degrees celsius will affect the country, thereby further putting most crops at risk.

Some isolated thunder-showers were also expected in Manicaland.

The MSD noted that the extremely hot temperatures may lead to dehydration, increased evaporation and evapotranspiration rates as well as heat stress in livestock.

Farmers were advised to increase irrigation of their crops and ensure proper shade and ventilation for livestock.

Agriculture Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS)’s Manicaland director, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa, said the crop situation is now dire in the province.

“The situation is not looking good because of the prolonged dry spell, especially in Buhera and Mutare districts, lower Chipinge, Rukweza area and regions four and five for Mutasa, Chimanimani and Nyanga.

“The crop is wilting and in dire need of moisture. I cannot make a conclusive statement, pending the release of the first round crop and livestock assessment report. It is a different story for those with Pfumvudza plots as their crops are still in a fair condition. Pfumvudza is the way to go for communal and small-scale farmers. Those with access to water should irrigate their crops,” she said.

Mrs Rwambiwa said despite the gloom and doom characterising the rain-fed crop, the irrigated crop around upper Chipinge and Region One is still good.

She said livestock are in good physical condition.

“The livestock condition is fair to good, given the improved grazing condition and water supply. Hay harvesting, bailing and storage is in progress. This is the right time for farmers to harvest their hay when it still has some nutrients, which will be vital for supplementary feeding during the lean season,” she said.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) executive director, Mr Paul Zakaria said their assessment across all provinces in the country points to below average harvest.

He said the nation’s hope now rests on Pfumvudza, irrigated crop and regions one and two.

“The situation, especially that of maize, is not looking good at all. The crop is at various stages of wilting. Farmers do not know what to do. Those with Pfumvudza plots still have their crop still hanging on, but desperately in need of moisture. If it does not rain in the next few days, the crop will be adversely affected and will not be resuscitated,” he said.

Mr Zakaria implored Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) to allow irrigating farmers to concentrate on producing a decent crop.

According to the policy, if a farmer is doing commercial production, they can be on a post-paid arrangement with ZETDC and only electricity for domestic consumption requires a dedicated prepaid meter.

Pre-paid electricity meters were introduced on farms in June 2015, with the power utility arguing that the move will keep the energy sector going.

However, due to the volatility of agricultural markets, changes in electricity charges have a significant impact on commercial farms’financial positions, and ZETDC has been switching off electricity to force farmers to pay up.

“This is a cause for concern if you look at how dire the situation is with the rain-fed crop. You cannot switch off electricity on the very little crop that the whole nation is now looking at and pinning its hopes on,” he said.

A ZETDC official in Manicaland who refused to be named citing protocol, said the parastatal is fully behind Government’s policies on ensuring food security.

The volume of water in major dams has started declining as demand for irrigation surges with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) disclosing that about 35 percent of the water has already been released towards sustenance of the summer crop as a result of the current prolonged dry spell.

Zinwa spokesperson, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, said following the current dry spell, water levels in major dams have started declining as demand for irrigation water has been increasing as a significant number of farmers are resorting to irrigation to sustain their summer crop.

“As at February 22, 2024, at least 35 percent more water had been released from the dams for irrigation than in a normal rainy season while the national dam level average had declined to 84. 2 percent from 84. 4 percent on February 14, 2024.

“Declines in water levels due to increased releases for irrigation have been noted in dams such as Osborne, Tugwi-Mukosi, Manyuchi, Mazvikadei, Sebakwe, Manyame and Chivero,”she said.