ZMD predicts good harvest

ZMD predicts good harvest
By Fridah Zinyama
Fri 26 Feb. 2010, 08:00 CAT

THE ZAMBIA Meteorological Department (ZMD) has stated that most of the maize crops have reached grain filling and full ripeness stages and the water requirements have been met. And the department stated that an unstable north westerly airflow would affect most parts of Zambia from February 20 to 28 this year.

According to the crop weather bulletin, this signifies a likelihood of a good harvest this season.

“However, in Southern Province, the late planted crops in poor sandy soils have not performed well especially those in Kazungula district but with the expected favourable weather conditions in the next dekad, most crops are expected to improve,” the bulletin stated.

The bulletin also revealed that crops along the streams in Sinazongwe had been washed away by excessive flash floods which prevailed during the dekad.

“And some floods have been reported in some parts of Zambezi district, Lusaka and Senanga have been experiencing some flash floods,” the bulletin stated. “However, no reports of damaged crops have been received.”

The bulletin further stated that the whole country was expected to be mainly cloudy with rains in places during this dekad and heavier falls were expected to occur over Western, North Western provinces and the southern districts of Eastern Province.