THE Meteorological Services Department (MET)’s forecast of normal to above normal rainfall for the 2014/15 summer cropping season did not serve the agricultural sector as the rains were unevenly distributed resulting in a drought.
The inconsistent rainfall spelt doom for crops as they failed to get water necessary for achieving maturity.
The 2014/15 rainfall season was characterised by a late start of rainfall in most areas.
In some places, rainfall was received as late as end of December 2014 and when it finally came, it came in torrents that caused leeching.
Record rain fell in many parts of the country with Guruve breaking a 90-year-old record after receiving 145 millimetres of rain in one day, surpassing the 1924 record of 90 millimetres.
As a result widespread floods were experienced in most flood prone areas in what the government described as the “worst (floods) in many years”.
Suddenly, the rains stopped resulting in a prolonged dry spell.
Given the unfolding disaster, preliminary estimates indicate that the country may require more than US$200 million to avoid serious hunger, especially in the southern parts of the country where prospects of any meaningful harvest have diminished.
The preliminary crop assessment report indicates that 15 percent of the food crops planted this season are a complete write off due to harsh weather conditions.
The country planted nearly two million hectares of cereals in the 2014/2015 farming season, but government says at least 300 000 hectares of the crops is beyond redemption following a prolonged dry spell.
This makes it difficult for the country to achieve anything close to the annual demand of 2,2 million tonnes.
According to the report, the main commodities affected are maize, wheat, and soya beans, and substantial imports will be needed to meet the production deficit.
Crops in the southern half of the country of Masvingo, Matabeleland South, Midlands and southern parts of Manicaland wilted.
Reports from farmers’ unions indicate that even the maize producing areas may require food assistance from Government.
Some provinces report that 70 percent of the crops have been wiped out and that many people will need aid in April, a time when harvesting typically begins.
While some experts said it was too early to establish how much maize the country will finally harvest, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) said production for 2015 was likely to be half of last year’s production of 1, 4 million tonnes.
“With the situation on the ground we are expecting 50 percent (700 000 tonnes) of the crop produced in 2014. But we urge our farmers to start making preparations for next season, which is winter and also gear up for the 2015/2016 season,” ZFU President Abdul Nyathi said.
Asked in Parliament recently by Goromonzi legislator Beatrice Nyamupinga on the country’s preparedness in terms of food security, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Cabinet had agreed to import grain to avert hunger.
Cabinet has already tasked the Finance Ministry to mobilise funds to import grain.
To avert future crop failure due to erratic rains stakeholders have appealed to Government and development partners to invest in irrigation systems to guarantee food security.
“The dry spell which is a result of climate change can only be addressed through resuscitating irrigation schemes rather than solely depend on rainfall,” said one Agritex officer.
“All we need to do is finance irrigation schemes and where they already exist, they need to be rehabilitated.”
Local climate and weather patterns have been changing over the years and yet most farmers and government remain ill-prepared.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that global agriculture yields will fall by up to 30 percent in year 2050 due to the worsening impact of climate change.