Hailstorm destroys winter wheat at irrigation scheme

A severe hailstorm swept through parts of Matebeleland South on Monday evening, causing widespread destruction to winter wheat and maize crops, with farmers at the Makwe Irrigation Scheme bearing the brunt of the damage.

The storm, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, brought 23 millimetres of rain accompanied by strong winds, destroying nearly 60 hectares of wheat that was ready for harvest. Of the 72 hectares planted, only 12 hectares remained unaffected, leaving farmers in despair.

"We are heartbroken. We were looking forward to a bumper harvest, and all is gone," said Mr Lewis Ncube, Chairperson of the Makwe Irrigation Scheme.

ARDA manager for the scheme, Ms Talent Machaka, confirmed the scale of the losses, adding that farmers' investments and hopes for the season had been severely impacted.

The storm also hit ARDA Antelope in Maphisa, destroying more than 200 hectares of maize, further compounding the blow to the region's food production and livelihoods.

Deputy Director of Agritex, Mr Bhekilizwe Ncube, highlighted the disaster as a reminder of the importance of crop insurance. "This is sad, but it brings to the fore issues that we always advocate for - making sure crops are insured because it is important. From what I am seeing, maybe 50% of the crop is gone," he said.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of agriculture in Matebeleland South to climate-induced disasters, particularly in regions reliant on irrigation schemes for food production, and raises urgent questions about risk mitigation and disaster preparedness for farmers in the province.