For years, Nkhotatoka district has been known for producing more rice harvest in the country, but this year things seem to be on the wrong turn following recent floods that destroyed most of the rice during its early stages in some areas particularly along the river banks such as Thiwi, among others.
The Director of Agriculture Services for Nkhotakota District Council, Dennis Emmanuel Zingeni reports that while this year’s rice production is estimated at 27,230 metric tons, an increase from last year’s 20,000 tons, heavy rains are still expected to negatively impact overall yields for both rice and maize.
In an interview with Umunthu Fm, Zingeni said to mitigate these losses, farmers in residual moisture areas need to embrace irrigation farming.
Zingeni suggests the need to plant resilient crops like cassava, sweet potatoes and maize to ensure food security in the district.
He however says planting resilient crops will help in ensuring that the district has enough food towards the end of the farming season.
Zingeni has also advised farmers to start harvesting crops that have already matured in order to avoid further losses.
During this year’s farming season Nkhotakota district has lost about 3,360 hectares of maize and 645 hectares of rice following continuous heavy rains.
In a snap survey conducted by Umunthu FM previously, some farmers in the district planted twice but all was in vain due to the floods.
