By JOHNSON KANAMUGIRE

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Late rains is delaying the planting season in many parts of the country, leaving farmers worried over prospects for a good harvest to compensate for the loss in the past season linked to floods and the effect of Covid-19 restrictions.

Rwanda Today established that planting season in several parts of the country’s main bread basket were yet to take off as there have been no sufficient rainfall, while field preparation is just starting for others almost a month into the 2021 season A.

Most farmers say they cannot afford to pay for irrigation which costs at least Rwf35000 per season of the plant, the cost varies depending on the type of plants though the cost is higher for farmers who have to maintain their own irrigation infrastructure.

“At this stage, we would be concluding the planting period, but we haven’t even embarked on the preparation of fields due to delayed rains. If it goes on for another one week, it will be too late for crops such as maize, beans, and peas in this area” said Christine Niyomuhoza, agronomist for KOABIRWIKI, a 400-member farmers’ cooperative in Southern Gisagara District.

Delayed rains concerns are shared by farmers in almost all parts of the country, but more specifically the Southern and Eastern Province with areas that are prone to recurrent droughts.

In Ngoma District, for instance, Isaie Habiyakare, a representative of local maize farmers said planting the staple would be impossible for many in the area whose land under irrigation scheme is way too small compared to the total arable space for the season. the East, South, and North continue to see poor rain performance.

Joseph Gafaranga, the organization’s executive secretary said that the bearing on the seasonal output was inevitable, while it would equally affect the timing of the next season for all those who will plant late.

“From the look of things now, farmers who are yet to plant especially hybrid maize, beans, fruits, peas, and Cassava would have to resort to other quick maturing crop varieties unless they have means to irrigate their farms. Otherwise, there are risks that late planting would make it impossible to plant into the next season,” said Gafaranga.

With low irrigation systems uptake at 6.8 percent as per data of season A of last year, according to the latest Survey by the national institute of Statistics, the majority of the farmers are now left to the mercy of unpredictable weather.

There are worries that likely effects of the poor season performance and compounding impacts of Covid-19 could escalate the already rising food inflation.

Food costs would usually start stabilizing with early harvests of season A towards mid-November, but farmers indicate that this could start happening a month later due to current changes.

Much as the ministry of agriculture and animal resources is cognizant of the issues around the general poor rainfall performance, its officials did not comment on the extent of the impact this could have on the course of the season and the anticipated output.

The government is however banking on intensive cultivation in this season to ensure food self-sufficiency as part of the bigger plan to boost the strategic food reserves and stern a rise in food inflation in view of the coronavirus pandemic.