By Patience Gondo
BEITBRIGE villagers are grappling with despair after weeks of scorching heat left their crops withered and wilted, wiping out months of hard work and hopes for a meaningful harvest.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network at the sidelines of a recent War Veterans League meeting, the villagers opened up on their struggles in what had appeared a good cropping year.
Standing among cracked soil and shriveled crops, farmers described the heartbreak of seeing their efforts destroyed by relentless weather.
“We put our hearts into these fields, but now everything is dry. There is nothing left to show for all the sweat and time,” said Gibson Tshinoni , a small-scale farmer in the district.
He said even drought resistant crops, planted in an attempt to cope with Beitbridge’s harsh Region 5 climate are struggling to survive.
“Farming is hard to win with this weather,” said another farmer.
“When you farm here, you cannot expect big yields. You have to accept that sometimes the land gives very little no matter how hard you work.”
Some farmers reflected on the importance of irrigation in such harsh conditions.
“If you have irrigation, it is better than waiting for rainfall,” said Rovhiwa Muleya .
“Rain is unpredictable here. You can plant and wait but the sun and dry spells can destroy everything in days.”
Villagers spent months preparing land, planting and tending their crops, often under temperatures soaring above 30°C. Despite this, the scorching sun and lack of meaningful rainfall left maize and sorghum shriveled before reaching maturity.
“We were hopeful when we planted, but the rains stopped just when our crops needed them the most,” Muleya said .
“Now we are worried about feeding our families. This was supposed to be our harvest, our food for the next months.”
Many spoke of the anxiety that comes with knowing that hard work does not guarantee a return.
“You plant with hope, you water, you weed, but the weather does not care,” said Mr. Dube.
“Sometimes you feel the earth is against you. Farming here is not just work , it is patience, acceptance and endurance.”
Although Beitbridge is classified as Region 5 an area prone to arid conditions and erratic rainfall villagers continue to plant, driven by necessity and tradition.
Still, many admit that the struggle often outweighs the reward.
Most who took heed of Government’s call for small grains are however happy since their crops matured.