The ManicaPost
Cyclone Idai destroys crops, livestock
During the 2018/19 farming season El Nino came with associated deadly effects like the furious and devastating Cyclone Idai which destroyed almost everything in its path in Chimanimani, Chipinge, Buhera and Mutare districts. The deadly cyclone led to the steep decline in the 2019 tobacco output as it damaged the yellowing leaf crop and curing barns.
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) estimated that 30 percent of the crop in Manicaland and as many as 550 tobacco barns were affected. Food crops and all kinds of livestock in the affected districts were destroyed, exposing survivors to severe hunger and starvation. To this end, Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are still in the process of assisting and building the livelihoods of those who lost their crops and livestock. Other effects of El Nino included erratic rainfall, heat waves, and hailstorms, which resulted in drastic decline in dam levels among others. According to the Meteorological Services Department, 62 percent of the El Nino years have been characterised by reduced rainfall activity.
Dam levels declined by 10 percent
By July 2019, water levels in major dams across the country had declined due to the stoppage of river flows and continuous draw downs for winter cropping.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) revealed that the water level in a number of dams in the seven catchment had drastically declined, resulting in the national dam level average dipping to 63,2 percent. This decline affected farmers across the country since they needed water to irrigate their crops.
Scarcity of agricultural inputs triggered by economic hardships
Despite irrigation challenges, farmers in the province struggled to get agricultural inputs due to the high prices and scarcity of fuel for transport and tillage purposes.
Fortunately, some communal farmers received inputs under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme while A1 and their commercial counterparts were served under the Command Agriculture scheme.
Tobacco destroyed by hailstorms
During the 2018/19 season several tobacco fields in Manicaland were destroyed by hailstorms, starting by about 30 hectares of irrigated tobacco in the Odzi area towards the end of 2018. The intense storm went on to shatter 90 percent of the irrigated crop worth millions of dollars in 2019.
Small grain uptake
Due to the erratic rainfall, smallholder farmers without irrigation facilties were urged to grow small grains which are drought tolerant. Initially some were sceptical having been used to growing the staple maize crop only, but latest information from Agritex indicates a paradigm shift. The farmers are adjusting and embracing the sound agronomic advice to grow small grains.
Agritex agronomist for Manicaland Mr Cephas Mlambo said: “Farmers in drought-prone communities have listened to agronomic advice to grow small grains since they are drought tolerant and can flourish even during drought. About 31 percent of our sorghum, 58 percent of our pearl millet and 17 percent of our rapoko have been planted,” said Mr Mlambo.
January disease wreak havoc
Livestock farming is a key component of agriculture as it offers a shield and opportunity for risk coping during drought, but despite playing such an important role, cattle health is not getting attention in Buhera district.
Cattle are kept for various uses including draught power, milk, meat, manure and cultural uses apart from offering opportunities for risk coping, diversification and intensification.
More than 4 000 cattle, with an estimated value of $1,5 million, have died from theilirolisis – a tick-borne disease also known as January disease in Buhera. The disease is caused by not dipping cattle regularly.
Shortages of drinking water and grazing are adding to the catastrophe, forcing villagers to abandon or watch helplessly as their animals died. Some villagers were panicking at prospects of having the entire herd wiped and are selling their bovines for peanuts. Dealers are buying cattle for as little as $300.
Marovanyati Dam starts harnessing water
The vision of providing multi-purpose water to thousands of people in rural and peri-urban segments of Buhera edged closer to reality as physical progress at Marowanyati Dam reached 96 percent completion since resumption in July 2017.
After 10 years of deferment under the old regime of ex-president Mr Robert Mugabe, the new administration led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa prioritised the dam’s construction and the contractor, China Jiangxi International Corporation, introduced 24-hour working shifts to enhance prospects of finishing major works on time.
Government implemented the bulk water supply scheme as part its effort to foster reliable access to water for communities where the impact of climate change is being keenly felt. The total cost of the project is US$33 251 852, 69.
The project is being supervised by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).
