Farirai Machivenyika  and Ellen Chasokela

Rains have rescued farmers who planted early without supplementary irrigation and have allowed others to move quickly into the fields to plant.

The Meteorological Services Department advised that normal to above normal rains were forecast from October to December, while normal to below normal rains are expected in the first three months of 2020.

According to the Met Department, some of the areas which recorded the highest rainfall on Tuesday were Mupfurudzi in Shamva (55mm), Shurugwi (53mm), Mutoko (46mm), Beitbridge (40mm), Bulawayo (33mm), Gokwe (33mm), Masvingo (32mm) and Kariba (29mm).

The rains have brought hope to farmers, with the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) president Mr Shadreck Makombe saying activity on farms had increased.

“The activity on the fields increased this week because of the rains that we are receiving,” he said.

“Some farmers had already taken a risk to dry plant and have since been saved since we are receiving good rains for the past few days.

“The moisture in the soil now can sustain the crops for a few more days as we await the next rains.

“Those farmers who have not planted are urged to plant now because the season has already been cut short due to the delays in the rainfall.”

Government was this year targeting to support 640 000 hectares of grain crops that include maize, sorghum and pearl millet under the Vulnerable Households Inputs Support Scheme.

Zimbabwe National Farmers Union executive director Mr Edward Dune urged farmers to grow short seed varieties.

“Time waits for no one, hence farmers are encouraged to plant their crops to increase chances of obtaining high yields,” he said.

“They should also grow short season varieties that mature early given the delays in rainfall we have experienced.’’

Seed Co agronomist Mrs Wendy Madzura encouraged farmers to plant varieties that suit their regions.

“We have the ultra-early maturity variety SC 301,” she said. “This is the earliest maturing hybrid on the market taking between 90-120 days to reach maturity.

“This variety fits well in low rainfall areas characteristic of region four and five. It is also a best suit for late planting, as well as for multiple cropping programmes in one season.

“In the 400 category, we have the early maturity variety SC 403, a variety known for its stability across environments and early maturity period which ranges from (115 to 127 days). This variety is a good fit in regions four and five where the length of the growing season is not long, having an average rainfall volume of 450mm to 650 mm.”

Mrs Madzura said for low rainfall areas and farmers with no irrigation, plant populations of 37 000 to 44 000 plants per hectare were encouraged to reduce competition amongst plants for sunlight, water and nutrients.

Managing director of the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe Mr Pious Manamike advised farmers to take advantage of the rains to increase rate of germination.

“We wanted them to plant with the early effective rains and I am happy that we have received effective rainfall throughout the country, so we encourage all our farmers to plant now so that we don’t miss the opportunity for good germination,” he said.