Story by Tendai Munengwa
Government has allayed fears of drought, imploring farmers to continue planting as more rains are expected starting this weekend.
“We would like to call on our farmers not to panic. So far we have planted area of 900 000 hectares and must continue planting. While the crops are suffering from moisture stress, it’s good for hardening. We got a report from Met department indicating that increase rains are forecasted this weekend. So, this is temporary and we still hope for a good season,” noted the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water & Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri.
With reports of a normal but shorter rainfall season anticipated up to the end of March next year, farmers who are still planting are advised to focus more on short season maize varieties and traditional grains.
“The season will be a shorter one up to end of March, so we encourage farmers to plant more of short seasoned varieties, so that they avoid the risk of losing their crop owing to climate change,” he added.
In view of the forecast of normal to above normal rains during the second half of the summer cropping period, government is optimistic farmers will achieve the targeted grain output of 3.3 million metric tonnes this season.
