by Rudo Saungweme

Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement’s Meteorological Services Department (MSD), has issued a statement on the expected erratic rains this season and encouraged farmers to plough drought resistant crops.

The press statement cited, “The MSD wishes to advise the public of a countrywide wet spell expected from Wednesday 02 till Thursday 03 January 2019, with a slight decline in rainfall activity over the areas to the south of the main watershed from Friday 04 January.

“Moisture is entering the country from both Botswana and South Africa, and should result in wide spread thunderstorms. Localised heavier falls (in excess of 50 mm in 24 hours) cannot be ruled out especially over Masvingo, Manicaland Provinces and Mashonaland East. However, it should begin to dry out from the south-western parts of the country (i.e Matabeleland South) from Friday into the weekend”

MSD added to say that the combination of moisture together with heat will be accompanied by violent storms, coupled with lighting, hail and damaging winds.

Ministry of Lands is therefore encouraging farmers to focus on drought resistant crop varieties and small grains to improve their yields in the 2019 cropping season.

In Zimbabwe, Bulilima in Matabeleland South is one of the country`s driest areas and has been experiencing successive droughts due to poor rains. Communal farmers produce small grain crops like sorghum, millet, cowpeas and rapoko, among others.

Bulilima is doing well in ploughing drought resistant crops with the support given to them by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement.