The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
HAILSTORM and strong winds destroyed 14 hectares of a ripening high value tobacco crop at Kelvin Farm in Headlands last week on Friday.
The natural phenomenon left the grower, Mr Booker Chinamasa, in agony.
The crop was at the 12-leaf stage and harvesting was in full throttle.
As the hail lashed, the sensitive leaves were pock-marked and broken.
The disaster happened barely two days after a tobacco barn with a harvested crop valued at US$2 500 was destroyed by a curing fire at the same farm.
The hail and windstorm also destroyed farm property and uprooted trees of various sizes along its path.
When The Manica Post recently toured the farm, labourers were all over the fields picking the debris, hoping to salvage and cure some leaves.
As the rainfall lashed the area, Kelvin Farm manager, Mr Arkim Kamwendo said they initially considered it a blessing until they realised their hopes for a bumper harvest were under threat.
Mr Kamwendo said it is disturbing that both the crop in the field and the barns were seriously damaged.
“The wet spell suddenly turned into a nightmare as the crop suffered massive damage due to the hailstorm and wind. It turned into a complete disaster that dashed our hopes for a bumper tobacco harvest. It is so frustrating if you think of the impact on the return on investment,” he said.
“We had a high quality self-financed crop, and had already secured a market with a tobacco contracting firm that needs at least 20 tonnes from us as a condition for them to invest in centre pivots for next season.
“It is so heart-breaking to watch helplessly as the crop you worked so assiduously on all year being destroyed in just 30 minutes. The hail was accompanied by strong winds. The hailstones poked holes and the windstorm plucked the leaves, resulting in a depressing outlook,” added Mr Kamwendo.
A distraught Mr Chinamasa said although the crop was insured, the hail dealt him a debilitating blow. He said Alliance Insurance has already visited to assess the field and barn damages. The insurance firm has already bought some roofing sheets and money for the rehabilitation of the destroyed barn. At least US$2 500 was needed to rehabilitate the barn and replace reaping materials like clippers and teers incinerated in the inferno.
Mr Chinamasa said the situation at Kelvin Farm was worsened by the destruction of huge gum plantations encircling the fields that used to serve as wind barriers.
“The crop was insured. The insurer responded swiftly and was here to assess the damage. They were assisting us to rehabilitate the barns destroyed by the fire, but our spirits were further dampened by the destruction of the crop by the hailstorm.
“It is a painful experience, but we will not lose our faith and focus.
It is part of the game, unforeseen eventualities can happen, lucky enough we had our backs covered,” said Mr Chinamasa.
Mr Chimanasa planted 20 hectares of tobacco — with 15 being irrigated while five hectares were under dry land.
Over the last three years, hailstorms accompanied by windstorms have been plaguing the area, causing serious crop damage.
Farmers along the vulnerable belt, which stretches roughly for 20km from Mr John Stanger’s Farm, have time and again sought insurance cover for their crop.
