Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau
Manicaland Province needs meaningful rains to resuscitate the moisture-stressed crop that has been affected by erratic rains and high temperatures. The situation has been exacerbated by reported outbreaks of the fall armyworm, which has seen farmers struggle to apply chemicals to the already stressed crop.

Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union regional manager Mr Daniel Mungazi last week said crops in all districts had been affected, with the critical ones being maize, soya and sugar beans and tobacco.

“The early maize and bean crops were at the reproductive stages of tasseling and flowering, which are critical in terms of yield determination,” he said. “The current dry spell continued to reduce yield potential and it is likely to result in write off if it persists.”

Mr Mungazi said the rain-fed tobacco crop had equally suffered due to the dry spell, as farmers were reporting stunted growth, false ripening and poor nutrient utilisation by the plants.

He said this resulted in high nitrogen levels, which normally reduces curing quality.

“The fall armyworm challenge was also reported and farmers were busy applying the recommended chemicals,” said Mr Mungazi.

Although some parts of the province have received some rains since the beginning of the season, there are areas that have not received any rain at all this year, resulting in poor germination of late planted crops.

Some farmers across the country are already counting losses as their crops are now a write-off.

The Meteorological Services Department last week reported that the cloud system currently affecting the country had resulted in thunderstorms concentrated in provinces like Midlands, Mashonaland West, Harare metropolitan and northern parts of Masvingo.

The weather was expected to be cloudy and warm, with occasional rain.

Parts of Manicaland are expected to experience heavier rains this week.

Government has announced its plans to carry out the first round of nationwide crop and livestock assessments to ascertain the severity of the prolonged dry spell to map out appropriate intervention measures.