Farmers Embrace Early Maturity Seed Varieties Amid Erratic Rainfall

Farmers in Matabeleland are turning to ultra-early maturity seed varieties to combat unpredictable rainfall, with 110 tonnes sold this season compared to just 5 tonnes of medium maturity seeds.

Provincial Sales Representative and Agronomist, Mr. Ngonidzaishe Mativenga, attributed the shift to the seeds’ resilience in dry conditions and their quick harvest period of 70 to 90 days, yielding up to 9 tonnes per hectare.

Medium maturity varieties, which require irrigation and take four months to mature, produce slightly higher yields of 10 tonnes per hectare but remain less favorable for rainfed farming.

As rainfall becomes more erratic in Matabeleland, early maturity seeds are proving essential for farmers adapting to the challenges of climate change.