Zimbabwe: Farmers are worried over dry spell continuing with crops
Maize (Corn)
Zimbabwe
Published Feb 24, 2022
Tridge summary
Farmers are becoming very worried as the dry spell continues with crops showing signs of moisture stress and a lot could depend on supplementary irrigation to ensure reasonable harvests. It has not been raining in most parts of the country while there have been localised light rains in Mashonaland and Manicaland. Maize at tasselling and grain filling stage have been severely affected while some farmers who had planted sugarbeans said the crop was now under threat from cutworms.
Original content
Agritex director, Mr Stancilae Tapererewa said the dry spell had been experienced countrywide and some crops could saved if rains come now. "We hope it rains as farmers had put so much efforts this season. "Farmers are currently controlling fall armyworm and weeding. Fall armyworm infestation increases in dry times. We do not recommend farmers to apply top dressing fertiliser until it rains otherwise they will burn the crops," he said. Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe yesterday said the situation was worrying in most parts of the country. "In some areas the crops are now a write off and cannot recover even if we get the rains soon. "Farmers under Pfumvudza can save their crops through supplemental irrigation since their plots are small. "The dry condition has also made it impossible for farmers to control weeds using systemic herbicides," he said. Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Trust, president, Mrs Depinah Nkomo said the in areas such as Selous, ...
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