While the recent heavy rainfall activity has brought hope and optimism to Zimbabwean farmers is growing, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) has advised farmers who have yet to plant maize to consider planting short-season crops like small grains.
ZFU Executive Director Paul Zachariah emphasized that in the face of unpredictable weather patterns, the shift towards drought-resistant crops is vital.
“We encourage farmers to go for very short-season varieties of maize, and sugar beans and similar crops are also viable options,” said Zachariah.
Zachariah added that, in light of the growing threat of climate change, the long-term solution lies in increased investment in irrigation systems. “We can no longer continue to rely solely on rain-fed agriculture,” he said, stressing the need for broader irrigation infrastructure across the country, despite its ambitious nature.
Agronomists echo these concerns, suggesting that short-term varieties of crops are likely to yield better results, even if rainfall patterns remain erratic. Ivan Craig, a Board Director at the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), noted that some farmers are managing to plant crops now, and others have managed to establish their crops with irrigation, although water shortages and erratic power supply have hindered full potential yields.
The arrival of the rains has been a welcome relief for farmers, offering hope for the coming months. Despite the challenges, Craig remains optimistic. “We still have a lot of hope that we will get through this season,” he said, as farmers across the country look forward to better prospects, albeit with a careful approach to their agricultural practices.
