The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
HORTICULTURE producing areas in Manicaland experienced massive frost bites occasioned by extreme temperature drops over the weekend, thereby leaving farmers counting their losses.
Agritex head for Manicaland, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa said the severe frosting was largely experienced in Nyanga, Troutbeck, Juliasdale, Tombo, Nyamaropa, Glespey, Chimaninani, Mutasa and Rusape where farmers lost horticulture crops and citrus produce worth thousands of dollars.
Mr Clemence Mucharedzeyi, the SeedCo sales and marketing agronomist, said 21 hectares of tomatoes and green mealies, as well as 12ha of chillies and mint, were affected in Mutasa District.
“The area destroyed by frost include 94ha of sugar bean, 28ha of potatoes, 27ha of tomatoes, 15ha of banana and 5ha of garlic. Green mealies, tomatoes, leafy vegetables and peas were some of the affected crops,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
“On average, a farmer lost 1ha of each crop, meaning they have lost income amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Nothing can be realised from the crop and the farmers will have to look elsewhere for funding for next season’s inputs. This becomes a vicious cycle of borrowing to fund farming operations,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
She said farmers should uproot the crop residue and start land preparations for the next crop.
Mrs Rwambiwa said to avert incidence of frost damage, farmers can mulch their crop using straw or plastic, irrigate at the end of the day and provide heat through burning tyres.
However, another expert said crops differ in their susceptibility to frost, adding that potato farmers need not worry as only the foliage has been damaged, with the bulbs protected by the soil.
Mr Clemence Mucharedzeyi said a farmer in Makoni, one Mr Nyamuzinga, lost a hectare of tomatoes.
“There were also pockets in Rukweza where gardens were affected. This will greatly affect the supply of agricultural produce, particularly tomatoes, beans and peas.
“There is going to be a shortage of these products in the near future. “Farmers affected may not be able to grow the next crop as they were banking on the returns from the affected crop.
“We implore on farmers to take weather forecast seriously and implement measures against such situations. However, the recent frost was too much. It affected even greenhouse crops in Nyanga. We encourage farmers to insure their crops,” said Mr Mucharedzeyi.
He encouraged farmers in frost free areas like Nyanyadzi, Deure, Mutema and Middle Sabi, among others, to grow more tomatoes to close the gap created.
“In highland areas like Nyanga, we encourage farmers to concentrate more on crops that can tolerate frost more. These include cabbages, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli, among others,” he said.
Temperatures between 0°C and 5°C causes water in plant cells to freeze and the resultant ice crystals damages cell membranes.
How crops react to freezing temperatures depends on where growth is taking place and whether the cells have built-in anti-freeze systems to prevent ice crystal formation.
Seedlings hardened by continuous low night and day temperatures are more resistant than seedlings hardened by alternating high and low day and night temperatures.
These recent low temperatures are attributed to the shift in weather patterns as a result of climate change.
Some parts of the globe have been experiencing low rains, cyclones, wind and high temperatures.
