Small scale or peri-urban farmers in Bulawayo are grappling with the impacts of the El Nino phenomenon, which has prolonged the dry spell in the region.
The urban farmers are now seeking assistance from both the government and international organisations to avert potential food shortages and starvation.
Unlike traditional farmers, urban farmers lack access to designated agricultural land.
Instead, they cultivate their crops in their own backyards or in other small plots of land within urban areas.
This has made them particularly vulnerable to the effects of the El Nino, as urban farmers have limited space and resources to adapt to the changing conditions.
Speaking to CITE, one of the urban farmers, Sinanzeni Mabaso from Ward 17, Pumula lamented the dire situation, highlighting the failure to harvest anything as crops withered prematurely.
“We didn’t harvest anything, our fields are just drying up, there is no hope of harvesting. We are appealing for well wishers, be it organisations, or food security to assist us get some food,” Mabaso said.
With minimal rain and high temperatures, the urban farmers have faced significant challenges in harvesting this year, exacerbated by the lack of irrigation systems.
Bongani Khumalo from Ward 20 claimed “many” farmers are witnessing their crops wither and die while their livestock is at risk of dehydration and malnutrition.
He also noted the absence of staple crops like mealies and traditional vegetables , signaling a severe drought year, exacerbating the struggle for sustenance.
“This year we are going to die of hunger, where we usually farm and survive if we don’t harvest anything. We did not even taste the mealies at all. There is nothing in our fields, which is a sign that it’s a drought year,” Khumalo bemoaned.
“We did not even get the traditional vegetables such as ulude, idelele, or even the beans. We are really going to struggle and probably die of hunger.”
Another resident Nomagugu Jele, said the situation is worse for the vulnerable groups in communities, who were now confronted with a crisis of food insecurity. .
“ The situation is difficult, we didn’t harvest anything, we have old people, the orphan and those with disabilities, the situation is worse for them. We are appealing for assistance to help us together with the vulnerable groups who are unable to hustle like us,” Jele said.
A community leader in St Peters, Juliet Bethule, said all the crops farmers had ploughed withered despite them following the Intwasa/pfumbvudza official guidelines.
“Those who farmed earlier didn’t receive anything, even those who ploughed later using the Intwasa method,” said Bethule.
The government has pledged to distribute food parcels to those most in need, as well as subsidise the cost of staple foods such as maize and wheat.
However, some say that the scale of the problem requires a more comprehensive and long term solution such as increasing access to irrigation systems and improving water management.
