12 °c
London
Monday, May 23, 2022
No Result
View All Result
FurtherAfrica
  • Countries
    • Angola
    • Botswana
    • Cape Verde
    • DRC
    • Eswatini
    • Ethiopia
    • Kenya
    • Malawi
    • Mauritius
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nigeria
    • Rwanda
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Uganda
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Interviews
  • Understanding
  • Videos
  • Travel
  • Weekend
  • About
FurtherAfrica
  • Countries
    • Angola
    • Botswana
    • Cape Verde
    • DRC
    • Eswatini
    • Ethiopia
    • Kenya
    • Malawi
    • Mauritius
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nigeria
    • Rwanda
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Uganda
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Interviews
  • Understanding
  • Videos
  • Travel
  • Weekend
  • About
No Result
View All Result
FurtherAfrica
No Result
View All Result
Home Agriculture

Zimbabwean programme reduces grassland fires

Staff by Staff
May 26, 2021
in Africa, Agriculture, Conservation, Farming, Forestry, Zimbabwe
Reading Time: 2 mins read
775 41
0
Zimbabwean programme reduces grassland fires
Share via QRWhatsappShare on FacebookShare on TwitterLinkedInPinteresteMail

A conservation system known as Pfumvudza, which Zimbabwe officially adopted at the beginning of the 2020/21 agriculture season to increase farmers’ resilience, has seen a reduction in fires.

In the past, farmers burned crop residue, but in conservation agriculture, they use it for mulching or to fertilize crops.

“We are happy with Pfumvudza. It’s good for agriculture, but it’s more of an environmental approach. Now, because of the need to mulch, people are no longer burning crop residue,” and that has led to fewer fires, said Steady Kangata, director of environmental management services with Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Authority.

Conservation agriculture is among the strategies the country is using to fight veldt-open grassland-fires. With around 90 percent of the country highly vulnerable to fire, minimizing the risk of veldt fires has become a more urgent task for the country.

Zimbabwean Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said on May 18 that due to excessive rainfall in the 2020/21 agriculture season, most areas of the country have been overgrown with weeds, shrubs and other plants, which dry out and become flammable in the dry season, increasing the risk of fires.

To reduce the threat of veldt fires to the economy, Zimbabwe’s Cabinet approved the 2021 Fire Season Veldt Fire Management Strategy and called for local authorities to prepare plans to deal with the problem.

Isaac Matsilele, secretary-general of the Association of Rural District Councils, said local authorities are working on an integrated environmental action plan to deal with veldt fires.

Also read: Zimbabwe: Tobacco prices continue to firm

“We have no integrated approach when dealing with veldt fire management, but we are always encouraging individual local authorities to have prescribed environmental action plans to respond to veldt fires,” he said.

Enias Chidhakwa, chief executive of the Zvimba Rural District Council, said efforts were underway to heighten awareness about the fire danger and encourage farmers to take preventive steps.

“We are also urging people to control their burning,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Transport is cutting grass where the fire danger is especially high.

Kangata, of the Environmental Management Authority, said the agency had accelerated fire awareness programs in the agriculture, transportation and electricity sectors, as well as among traditional chiefs and local authorities.

The agency has also instituted other fire suppression strategies such as hay baling, construction of fire barriers, firefighting training, farm inspections and issuing of fire prevention orders that outline the conditions that farmers must meet.

“We have a stipulated period which we call the fire season, from 31 July up to the onset of the first rains. Before this period, fires are allowed for pasture control and tick control, but after then, no one is allowed to start a fire,” Kangata said.

Although Zimbabwe saw 30 percent fewer veldt fires in 2020, an average of 1 million hectares is destroyed by veldt fires each year. In addition, veldt fires killed 112 people between 2010 and 2020.

Related

Via: China Daily
Tags: agricultureConservationconservation agricultureFarmingfiresforest firesforestryzimbabweZimbabwean programme reduces grassland firesзимбабвеزيمبابويジンバブエ津巴布韦
ScanSendShare326Tweet204Share57Pin73Send
Staff

Staff

Related Posts

Environment

Rich nations offer debt guarantees on South African climate deal

by FurtherAfrica
May 23, 2022
Ethiopia energy access
Trade

South Sudan and Ethiopia sign 100MW electricity trade agreement

by Energy Capital & Power
May 23, 2022
Venture Capital

South African TooMuchWifi raised US$1M pre-series A funding

by TechGist Africa
May 23, 2022
Development

EU provides €3M+ for urban development in Mozambique

by Club of Mozambique
May 23, 2022
South African stocks hit near 7-month highs
Banking

South Africa Investec nearly doubles annual profit

by FurtherAfrica
May 23, 2022
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
 
AFSIC 2022
 
MozParks

Translate this page

Read the Latest

Environment

Rich nations offer debt guarantees on South African climate deal

by FurtherAfrica
May 23, 2022
0

A group of the world’s richest nations offered South Africa debt guarantees as part of a proposed $8.5 billion deal...

Read more
Ethiopia energy access

South Sudan and Ethiopia sign 100MW electricity trade agreement

May 23, 2022

South African TooMuchWifi raised US$1M pre-series A funding

May 23, 2022

EU provides €3M+ for urban development in Mozambique

May 23, 2022
South African stocks hit near 7-month highs

South Africa Investec nearly doubles annual profit

May 23, 2022

FurtherAfrica Partners

The Exchange Club of Mozambique Taarifa Rwanda
TechGist Africa Africa Oil & Power Farmers Review Africa
Tanzania Invest Zambia Invest See Africa Today
Africa Global Funds Novafrica CrudeMix Africa
Harambee Africa Botswana unplugged Financial Insights Zambia
Digilogic Africa

Subscribe to FurtherAfrica

Enter your email address to receive new articles on your email.

Join 73,051 other subscribers.

FurtherAfrica

© 2021 FurtherMarkets

FurtherAfrica is a FurtherMarkets Limited platform

  • Countries
  • Interviews
  • Understanding
  • Videos
  • Travel
  • Weekend
  • About

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Countries
    • Angola
    • Botswana
    • Cape Verde
    • DRC
    • Eswatini
    • Ethiopia
    • Kenya
    • Malawi
    • Mauritius
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nigeria
    • Rwanda
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Uganda
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Interviews
  • Understanding
  • Videos
  • Travel
  • Weekend
  • About

© 2021 FurtherMarkets

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?