The ManicaPost
Post Correspondent
FARMERS in Manicaland are breathing a sigh of relief as the province continues to receive a fair share of meaningful rains for the second week, which has rejuvenated crops that were showing signs of stress due to a prolonged dry spell.
The delays of the rains are a direct result of climate change, which has increasingly manifested itself by increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as drought – which pose a serious threat to agricultural production and household food security.
Climate change experts are placing the blame for the changing weather patterns on the increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, notably carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide and other gases such as methane and nitrogen are causing the earth to heat up.
Its severe impact on food self-sufficiency was being felt at both household and national level.
It is such adverse effects of climate change that threaten the country’s attempts to reduce rural poverty, which is currently estimated at least 70 percent, by improving household food and nutritional security, such that Government was contemplating contingency measures such as cloud seeding.
The rains started pounding the province on Wednesday last week, rejuvenating waning hopes among farmers, the majority of whom dwell in rural areas and depend heavily on rainfed agriculture for food and income.
Agritex head for Manicaland Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa said the greater part of the province received moderate rains, sufficient to recharge soil moisture for planting as well as to revive planted crops that were beginning to wilt in the scorching heat.
She said the crop situation in the province had improved following the effective rains that hve been received since last week.
Mrs Rwambiwa said the crop in Manicaland was looking good as the rains had improved significantly.
“The rains have raised hopes for the farmers after rejuvenating both the crop and pastures,” she said.
Mrs Rwambiwa, however, indicated that the rains might have come a bit late for some crops that were at permanent wilting stage.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) this week predicted that the rains would be decreasing in the next weeks.
MSD chief provincial meteorologist (Manicaland) Mr Lukas Murambi said effective rains will be experienced in the northern parts of Manicaland such as Mutasa and Nyanga districts while lesser rains will be experienced in the southern parts of the province like Chisumbanje.
“This week, our rainfall in the province will increase.
“We can say that we still have the rains with us, but will be gone in the following weeks. It is much easier to predict a short-range forecast than predicting a long-term one. Hence, we are not sure when exactly the rains will be gone, but we know they will be gone in a few weeks,” said Mr Murambi.
According to the MSD, rainfall distribution is not homogeneous, as some areas are having significant downpours while other areas have had no meaningful rains at all.
According to the MSD weather report from Monday to Wednesday, thunderstorms were experienced.
They were also expected along and to the north of the main watershed during the week.
“Once a thunderstorm begins, desist from all outdoor activity; avoid sheltering under a tree or in isolated sheds as these are prone to lightning strikes.
“Remember, when thunder roars, it is best to be indoors.”
