by Gretinah Machingura
HARARE, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's dry land crops have begun showing signs of moisture stress, with some reaching permanent wilting stage due to erratic rains and high temperatures.
According to the latest Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET), Zimbabwe has received below normal cumulative rainfall since the start of the 2017-18 rainfall season in October and November, a situation that has affected many crops.
"The worst affected province is Mashonaland West, one of the highest surplus-producing areas in the country.
"Because of low rainfall, planted area is atypically low in some areas, especially in the north. Crop germination and establishment in some areas has been and will continue to be affected. Planted area is lower than typical in most areas and agricultural activity is below-normal as well," FEWSNET said Wednesday.
The country's Meteorological Services Department has forecast little and isolated rainfall activity over the country, with dry and hot conditions continuing.
The state-run Herald newspaper reports that the worst affected crops are the staple maize and tobacco which is now showing signs of false ripening.
Cotton, however, is doing well.
Tobacco is Zimbabwe's largest foreign currency earner and it has been reported that the late onset of rains may affect the opening of the 2018 selling season as most of the crop is still in the fields.
Under normal circumstances, at this time of the year, most of the farmers would be harvesting and curing their crop ahead of the marketing season.
Traditionally, the selling season starts mid-February or early March. However, last year, the tobacco marketing season was a bit delayed as it opened on March 15.
"The date for this year's tobacco selling season has not yet been announced as stakeholders are yet to meet to discuss issues relating to marketing. This is because most of the crop is still in the fields due to the late onset of the rains," said a local online agriculture publication, the Farmers Voices.
Agriculture deputy minister Davis Marapira expressed concern over the general crop condition in the country.
"The dry conditions have seriously affected plants, especially those at tasseling stage.
"In some areas, the irrigated crop has been affected as water sources are dwindling," the minister said to the media.
The country recorded a bumper maize harvest of over 2 million tonnes in the 2016/17 agricultural season, more than the national requirement of 1.8 million tonnes annually.
