FARMERS in Buhera have expressed optimism for a good yield this year compared to last year when Zimbabwe was ravaged by the El Niño-induced drought.
At least 7,7 million people were food insecure by the end of last year.
Speaking to NewsDay recently, Buhera Rural District Council ward 6 agricultural extension officer Ella Gurwe said the 2024/25 agricultural season was promising though it had a bad start.
“This season started off with little hope,” she said.
“It was more of an extension of last year’s drought, but as it is progressing, we are now sure of achieving a yield that will carry the people forward to next season.”
Gurwe said, aided with the Climate Resilient Livelihoods (Village Savings and Lending Scheme), farmers invested more this season, and, coupled with favourable rains being received, they were sure of good yields.
District agronomist Peter Mafukidze said the same period last year was distressing.
“The people were hugely affected by the El Niño-induced drought,” he said.
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“Now they are starting to harvest from their fields, which was not the case last year during the same period.
“We are sure that they will harvest food that will sustain them for a longer period.”
Livestock specialist Basil Musendo said the district lost more than 500 cattle as a result of the drought.
“Last year during the drought period, livestock was lost as a result of having to travel very long distances for food and water,” he said.
“There was loss of condition for cattle. We had intervention through the Green Climate Fund in the long run and were able to save the few remaining livestock.
“They were also killed as people sought means of survival. This year, feed is in abundance and we look forward to our farmers managing to venture into programmes that will enable them to save for future incidents of drought.”
According to the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, El Niño events in Zimbabwe have been linked to disruption of climatic patterns, including rainfall, resulting in both localised and widespread impacts on livelihoods and ecosystems.
