Business Reporter
THE Meteorological Services Department (MSD) will this month issue the 2016-2017 summer agricultural season weather forecast, which will guide preparations for cropping by farmers, an official has said. MSD director Dr Amos Makarau said: “The 2016-2017 Sadc and Zimbabwe summer agriculture season will be issued by 30 August 2016”. He, however, said probabilistic forecasts indicate “very low likelihood of El Nino” this coming season with 44 percent of normal rainfall expected until December 2016.
Dr Makarau told industry captains at the just ended Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) congress in Bulawayo that the changes in climate were real hence proactive measures need to be taken.
“In view of the rapidly changing climate, CZI should now mainstream weather and climate into operational and development plan (climate factoring policy),” he said. Agricultural experts have urged increased investment in irrigation infrastructure as a long term strategy to achieve food security.
Zimbabwe has not been spared from the ravages of climate change, which has resulted in the traditional rainfall season shifting. In February, President Mugabe declared the 2015-16 agricultural season a national disaster due to the dire effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon that has seen the country receiving normal to below normal rainfall.
Some 3,3 million people are said to be in need of food aid and the Government is stepping up efforts in food mobilisation and distribution interventions to mitigate the adverts effects of drought.
The problem with Zimbabwe’s climate is that about 90 percent of agriculture is rain-fed and once the country gets less rainfall in November, it means that the planting dates will vary.
Following extensive research, weather experts are proposing that irrigation becomes the country’s central focus. The Government is in the process of developing a climate change policy, which seeks to make sure that every sector takes climate on board.