Farmers Urged to Embrace Climate-Smart Agriculture as Season Proves Successful

By Ilyana Sithole

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, has urged farmers to adapt to the changing climate by embracing climate-smart agriculture practices. Speaking on the current agricultural season being a success, Prof. Jiri noted the changed weather patterns and urged farmers to alter their sowing calendar as well as seed types.

“Seasons have changed,” Prof. Jiri stated. “Where rains used to start in October, now we get rains later. This season has been good if you look at it from a point of view of climate change. We know that because of climate change, our seasons are now starting later, which means that from the October planting, now we don’t expect October planting.”

He stressed the importance of recognizing this shift and adapting accordingly. “The majority of our crops must be planted in November and December. So that shifting seasons must be recognised. And also that our seasons have become shorter, so people must now invest in short season crops and medium season crops to be able to harvest and harvest well.”

Despite the changing climate, Prof. Jiri expressed satisfaction with the current season’s outcomes, attributing the positive results to farmers’ increased awareness and acceptance of climate change-induced changes. “So if we take into consideration the effects and the response that we have had to climate change, we would say this has been a very good season from a climate point of view and also from the farmer’s acceptance of the changes brought in by climate change.”

He highlighted the promising condition of maize crops across the country. “We are very excited and so are our farmers. Most of our maize crop is really looking very well. Crop condition is good and we are looking at a maize crop which was planted early, has now reached physiological maturity.” He added that even later-planted maize crops are showing excellent progress, suggesting a positive outlook for food security. “So in terms of food security, we are now really out of the woods.”

Prof. Jiri also pointed to the success of traditional grains, particularly in regions 3, 4, and 5, where farmers were encouraged to cultivate these resilient crops. “Those traditional grains have also reached physiological maturity in most areas. Of course, the later planted crop is also maturing now, but by and large, most of those crops, traditional grains included, have reached now a stage where even if the rains should go away, we will still be able to harvest.”

With the tobacco harvest underway and cotton crops flowering, the outlook for other key agricultural products also appears positive. “Cotton, we are also seeing a lot of it is also flowering now and most of it will reach maturity. The other crops, most of the agricultural crops are also quite looking very good.”

Concluding, the professor expressed confidence in a successful harvest. “So in terms of our cropping, we now have reached a stage where we can safely say that given the current rains, we are in a good space to be able to harvest and harvest well.” His remarks are both encouraging (to farmers) and a testament to the importance of adapting to the realities of climate change in agriculture.