Over 7,000 hectares of maize fields in Lusangazi District, Eastern Province, have been affected by a dry spell that has hit the region.

ZANIS reports that Lusangazi District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO), Friday Sikombe, says a total of 7,268 hectares have been severely impacted by the drought, affecting 7,820 small scale farmers dotted around the district.

Mr Sikombe explains that many farmers planted their crops as soon as the rains began, but their crops are now drying up due to the dry spell.

He stated that most households in the district will face food shortages if the drought situation persists.

“We are encouraging farmers to plant early-maturing varieties and to consider growing drought-resistant crops such as sorghum and cassava to help mitigate the impact of the situation,” he said.

Mr Sikombe also revealed that farmers are now relying on the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for maize through its community maize sales initiative.

He said the government has introduced a bonding exercise for farmers on the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) and the Sustainable Agriculture Finance Facility (SAFF), which allows farmers to sell their produce to FRA.

He explained that selling of maize to the FRA will help boost the country’s food security like the current situation where farmers affected by last season’s drought are buying maize from FRA.

Meanwhile, Mr Sikombe disclosed that the district recently experienced an outbreak of grasshoppers in Mwanika Camp, which affected 156 hectares of maize for 57 farmers.

He noted that farmers were provided with chemicals to spray their fields, and the pest has since been contained. 

Mr Sikombe has however, advised farmers to continue monitoring the situation closely and report any signs of pests to his office.

“We have also encouraged farmers to purchase additional chemicals in case other pests emerge due to the drought,” he added.

Mr Sikombe has since expressed gratitude to the government for the swift response in addressing the pest situation in the district.