13 Jan 2014

Recent rains in Chobe have left a Kazungula-based horticultural farmer several thousands of Pula poorer after wiping out almost a hector of his produce that was ready for harvest.

Mr Tshenyo Solomon lost a quarter of a hectare of tomatoes and green peppers and another quarter of watermelons to the heavy rain just a few months into harvesting.

According to farm manager, Mr Kudakwashe Sithole, they had only harvested the initial crop when continuous rains which fell almost daily between December 8 and January 3 destroyed all the vegetables that remained.

Continuous rain, Mr Sithole said, exposed plants to fungal infections, which would explain the sorry state of his rotten green peppers and tomatoes.  “There is nothing coming out,” he said in an interview.  Even the harvested water melons that had been harvested before the rains went to waste as they started cracking and had to be thrown away.

Mr Sithole said he was shocked by this year’s rains because Chobe rains did not normally fall continuously and for long periods.  “It comes at intervals and is widespread giving us time to harvest and work on our farm,” he said.

Unfortunately unlike damage caused by wildlife, damage caused by natural disasters such as rains was not compensated for. Additionally farmers also needed to be on the lookout for baboons which targeted tomatoes and water melons and against whose damage there was no compensation. 

That notwithstanding, Mr Sithole still believed Chobe was the best place for horticulture as there was no frost which allowed for production of tomatoes throughout the year. Mr Sithole is already in the process of re-planting. ENDS