Drought looms in Beitbridge

A serious drought is looming in Beitbridge district where crops have started wilting due to lack of water, while others have been severely affected by the fall armyworm.

The district has so far received an average of 50mm of rain since the start of the 2018-19 cropping season. It required a total of 450mm of rains to ensure a successful cropping season.

Small-scale farmers in some areas have also raised concern over the depleting surface water for both livestock and crops. In separate interviews, the farmers said their crops wilted a few days after germination due to erratic rains.

The deputy chairman of the River Ranch irrigation scheme management committee, Mr Johanne Nyathi, said the situation was dire.

“We have a total of 83 plot-holders here and everyone is demoralised. Crops are wilting due to lack of rains and water for irrigation,” he said.

“To add to our misery, the fall armyworm had ravaged most of our crops. We have tried to apply pesticides but it is not helping.”