Heavy Rains a Disaster for Farming

Zimbabwe's farmers had an auspicious start to the New Year, with heavy rains which began in earnest on December 3. But analysts warn that the country might nevertheless experience its worst food crisis yet, because of widespread flooding which has revealed that the authorities were poorly-prepared and had no back-up plan.

While there were early warnings that Zimbabwe would see above-normal rainfall levels over the 2007-08 season, the government failed to advise farmers when they should start planting.

Farmers were in a quandary over when they should start planting in earnest, because in the past, October rains have been followed by a dry interval in November and December, wiping out the young crops. People have then been forced to replant from inadequate seed resources, and in drought years when the rainy season has ended prematurely around March, the crops have been a write-off.

Insufficient supplies of seed for the staple cereal, maize, and shortages of fertilisers are a persistent problem, caused by the critical lack of foreign currency in the economy over recent years.

This time round, there are widespread fears that the incessant rains pounding the country could lead to crop failure, due to waterlogging and the lack of sun.

In what some observers see as an early sign of climate change in Zimbabwe, the month of December was described as the wettest since records were first kept 127 years ago. The rains have led to massive flooding in most countries in southern Africa, resulting in loss of life, livestock depletion and crop destruction.

"In agriculture, we say rain makes grain, [yet] in Zimbabwe this year at least we must say rain makes starvation," said Renson Gasela, a former general manager of the state monopoly Grain Marketing Board, and now secretary for land and agriculture in one of two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.