AROUND this time last year, it was raining in many parts of the country.
In fact, persistent light showers have traditionally been experienced at the end of April.
The rains mark the end of the rainy season as winter begins, but this year has been unusual, possibly due to a shift in climatic conditions.
This means farmers must always be on their toes to mitigate the effects of these changes in weather patterns.
It may not surprise me that this year's winter may not be cold.
This means winter crops like onions and garlic, which need low temperatures, might be in big trouble.
Other crops like wheat, which rely on longer night temperatures enjoyed in winter, will lose quality and have reduced quantity.
But it may also be very cold this winter because of the weather unpredictability.
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And if this happens, the same crops may freeze, while extreme temperatures may also affect livestock.
Water may get frozen, affecting animals.
Very low temperatures are not good for newly born animals — they may end up dying.
It is important to remind farmers that about one third of human-caused methane emissions come from livestock.
It is produced in the digestive process that allows ruminants to absorb plants.
Livestock produces about 14% of human-induced climate emissions.
It is methane from their burps and manure that is a big concern.
Although methane breaks down relatively quickly in the atmosphere, it is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
Options for reducing methane, include alternative feeds for cattle, reducing food loss and waste, and cutting meat and dairy production.
The United Nations wants a shift from outsized meat and dairy industries, especially in high-income countries.
Yet, production in these continues to rise.
There is no doubt that climate change has disrupted food availability, reduced access to food and affected its quality.
Projected temperature decreases, changes in precipitation patterns, extreme weather events and reductions in water availability may all result in reduced agricultural productivity.
The Zimbabwe Meteorological Service Department (MSD) asserts that daily minimum temperatures have risen by approximately 2,6°C over the last century, while daily maximum temperatures have risen by 2°C during the same period.
Changes in climate have resulted in more arid environments for agricultural production, which has shifted Zimbabwe’s five main agro-ecological zones.
Farmers need to be alert of these changes, otherwise their traditional cropping plans may need to be altered.
According to the MSD, rainfall patterns and crop production progressively deteriorated from Region I to V.
For example, Chinhoyi and Chibero in Mashonaland West, and surroundings, have shifted from natural region II to natural region III, while Kwekwe, in the Midlands, and its surroundings, have shifted from natural region III to natural region IV.
Region I has reduced in size, while region II has shifted further east, with region III shifting further north.
Overall, Zimbabwe’s climate is regionally differentiated, and farmers need to take this information seriously, as they plan to plant for winter.
Gwabanayi is a practising journalist and a farmer in his own right. — 0772 865 703 or [email protected]
KARIBU na wakati huu mwaka jana, kulikuwa na mvua katika sehemu nyingi za nchi. Kwa kweli, kwa kawaida mvua ndogo-ndogo za mvua zimekuwa zikitokea mwishoni mwa Aprili. Mvua hiyo inaashiria mwisho wa msimu wa mvua wakati majira ya baridi kali yanapoanza, lakini mwaka huu umekuwa wa ajabu, labda kwa sababu ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Hii inamaanisha wakulima lazima daima kuwa juu ya vidole vya miguu yao ili kupunguza athari za mabadiliko haya katika mifumo ya hali ya hewa. Haishangazi kwamba majira ya baridi kali ya mwaka huu huenda yasikuwa baridi. Hii inamaanisha mazao ya majira ya baridi kama vile vitunguu na vitunguu, ambayo yanahitaji joto la chini, yanaweza kuwa na shida kubwa. Mazao mengine kama vile ngano, ambayo hutegemea joto la usiku la muda mrefu linalopendwa wakati wa baridi kali, yatapoteza ubora na kuwa na kiasi kidogo. Lakini pia huenda kukawa na baridi sana wakati wa majira ya baridi kali kwa sababu ya hali ya hewa isiyoweza kutabiriwa. Waziri wa Kilimo anaomboleza ukosefu wa shule - BCC inajiunga na mpango wa Green Cities - Mlevi anaua mchungaji wa kanisa - DripSol's one-stop-shop kwa wakulima inafungua milango na ikiwa hii itatokea, mazao yaleyale yanaweza kufungia, wakati joto kali pia linaweza kuathiri mifugo. Maji yaweza kufungia, na kuathiri wanyama. Joto la chini sana si nzuri kwa wanyama wachanga <unk> wanaweza kuishia kufa. Ni muhimu kuwaambia wakulima kwamba karibu thuluthi moja ya uzalishaji wa methani unaosababishwa na wanadamu hutokana na mifugo. Inatengenezwa katika utaratibu wa kumeng'enya chakula ambao huruhusu wanyama wanaokula mimea wavae mimea. Mifugo inazalisha karibu 14% ya uzalishaji wa hali ya hewa unaosababishwa na wanadamu. Ni methani inayotokana na milipuko yao na chachu inayosababisha wasiwasi mkubwa. Ingawa metani huvunjika upesi katika angahewa, ni gesi yenye nguvu zaidi ya kuongeza joto kuliko kaboni dioksidi. Njia za kupunguza methane ni pamoja na mbadala za kulisha ng'ombe, kupunguza hasara ya chakula na taka, na kupunguza uzalishaji wa nyama na maziwa. Umoja wa Mataifa umependekeza kuondoa viwanda vya nyama na maziwa, hasa katika nchi zenye mapato ya juu. Hata hivyo, uzalishaji katika maeneo hayo unaendelea kuongezeka. Hakuna shaka kwamba mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yameharibu upatikanaji wa chakula, kupunguza upatikanaji wa chakula na kuathiri ubora wake. Kupungua kwa joto, mabadiliko katika mifumo ya mvua, matukio ya hali ya hewa kali na kupunguzwa kwa upatikanaji wa maji inaweza kusababisha kupunguzwa kwa uzalishaji wa kilimo. Idara ya Utafiti wa Hali ya Hewa ya Zimbabwe (MSD) imesema joto la chini la kila siku limepanda kwa karibu 2,600 ° C katika karne iliyopita, wakati joto la juu la kila siku limepanda kwa 2 ° C katika kipindi hicho hicho. Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yamesababisha mazingira ya ukame zaidi kwa uzalishaji wa kilimo, ambayo imehamisha maeneo matano makuu ya kilimo na ikolojia ya Zimbabwe. Wakulima wanapaswa kuwa makini na mabadiliko haya, la sivyo mipango yao ya kawaida ya kupanda inaweza kuhitaji kubadilishwa. Kwa mfano, maeneo ya Chinhoyi na Chiberou katika Mashonaland Magharibi na maeneo ya karibu yamehamishwa kutoka eneo la asili II hadi eneo la asili IV, wakati Kwekwe katika Midlands na maeneo yake yamehamishwa kutoka eneo la asili III hadi eneo la asili IV. Mkoa wa I umepungua kwa ukubwa, wakati mkoa wa II umehama zaidi mashariki, na mkoa wa III umehama zaidi kaskazini. Kwa ujumla, hali ya hewa ya Zimbabwe inatofautiana katika mikoa, na wakulima wanahitaji kuchukua habari hii kwa uzito, kwani wanapanga kupanda kwa majira ya baridi. Gwabanayi ni mwandishi wa habari anayefanya kazi na mkulima kwa haki yake mwenyewe.  0772 865 703 au [email protected]