Gokwe North District Administrator Robert Mzeziwa has raised a red flag saying his district is in dire need of food aid as erratic rains threatened the 2017/18 season.
Mr Mzeziwa said even the late wet spell that is currently being experienced countrywide could not resuscitate the crops that have been written off and hunger was looming in the district.
“The erratic rains affected our harvest this season as when the wet spell came, most crops had been rendered write-off. The eastern parts of the district are the most affected as farmers there have already given up farming for the season,” he said.
He said the rains are causing serious soil erosion affecting the remaining crop.
“The little that had been left in the fields has also been affected by the heavy rains that we are currently experiencing. The soils are so loose and crops are being eroded by the heavy rains leaving us prone to a drought,” he said.
He said only a few farmers had taken up farming of small grains since the type of soil in the district was suitable and was a major contributing factor to the poor harvest.
“The acidic type of soil that we have in the district is not suitable for plantation of any crop. When its dry, maize easily wilts and I think most farmers gave up farming because the type of soil is not supportive to farming activities,” he said.
He said most farmers had sold their remaining harvest for last year as they were optimistic of a good harvest this season.
“Most of the people sold their harvest to Grain Marketing Board as they were optimistic of a good harvest this farming season.
Mr Mzeziwa also bemoaned the nonexistence of irrigation schemes in the area saying lack of large dams due to siltation in the area hindered the development of the irrigation schemes.
“We cannot have irrigation schemes in the district due to the type of soil that is affected easily by siltation. This will also affect our people as we
would rely on the irrigations if we had some,” said Mr Mzeziwa.
Although he could not be drawn into availing more details furthermore , Mr Mzeziwa said they had engaged a non-governmental organisation that is willing to assist in setting up of an irrigation scheme in the area.
“We are going to have an irrigation, a 200 hectare in the Copper Queen area. But I cannot comment further in formation as we are still in talks with the organisation,” he said.
He added that although things looked bad in the fields, they were in the opposite of the livestock.
“Livestock condition has dramatically improved as the water bodies throughout the country have been boosted by the late rains,” he said.
