News / National
Disappointing amacimbi harvest to affect prices
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Villagers in Bulilima District, Matebeleland South Province, a key hotspot for the harvesting of mopane worms (amacimbi), are facing a disappointing harvest this season, despite receiving good rainfall across the region. The rains, which brought relief to farmers and improved the condition of crops and livestock, seem to have had an unexpected impact on the popular delicacy's yield.
In December and January, Matabeleland experienced consistent rainfall, with some areas receiving almost daily showers. However, villagers from Mopane and Mbonqane villages lamented that the rains came at an unfortunate time for mopane worm harvesting.
Mrs. Atallia Mhlanga from Mbonqane Village shared her frustrations: "This time, I harvested just two buckets, equivalent to two 20kg bags, compared to previous seasons when we made significant income from selling amacimbi. I will keep this season's harvest for my family only, I can't afford to sell any due to the low yield."
She explained that the heavy rainfall interfered with the timing of the harvest, as mopane worms grow rapidly and must be collected while they are still feeding on tree leaves. If they are not harvested on time, they burrow into the ground and disappear, making the harvest impossible.
"We received a lot of rain when we expected to start harvesting amacimbi. The rain didn't give us enough time to go into the wild to collect them," Mrs. Mhlanga added, expressing hope that the next harvest, expected in April, will be better.
Mrs. Evelyn Ngwenya, another villager, noted that there was a lack of influx from people outside the district, who usually travel to Bulilima in search of the delicacy. In previous years, this has led to conflict between locals and dealers from other regions. However, this year, the situation was different.
"In less than three weeks, amacimbi were gone. By the time outsiders heard that the season had started, there was nothing left to harvest. The difference between locals and outsiders is that we harvest amacimbi responsibly," Mrs. Ngwenya said. "Locals pick them from the trees or the ground, while outsiders cut down trees, leaving destruction in their wake."
She showed The Chronicle part of her 20kg harvest collected in early January, noting that the heavy rains made it difficult to gather the worms on time.
In Mopane village, Mr. Aleck Siziba expressed similar concerns, stating that despite favorable vegetation, few people in his area managed to have a good harvest. He remains hopeful, however, that with the rains expected to subside in April, the second phase of the mopane worm season will yield better results for the villagers.
The Bulilima Rural District Council took measures last year to manage the harvesting of amacimbi, recognizing the risk of over-harvesting and deforestation, which could lead to the depletion of mopane worm populations. In response to these concerns, the council implemented a system where individuals harvesting amacimbi would pay a fee to help fund local conservation efforts.
Mopane worms have long been a vital source of protein and income for communities in the Matabeleland region, as well as neighboring countries like Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia. Traditionally, locals have collected amacimbi from the wild and traded them to meet their basic needs. However, unsustainable harvesting practices, particularly near border regions, have begun to raise alarms about the long-term viability of the species.
In Botswana, the government has already banned commercial harvesting of mopane worms to allow the species to regenerate. Local authorities have stopped issuing harvesting permits to dealers, aiming to protect the worms' population for future seasons. In contrast, Zimbabwe has yet to impose a similar ban on commercial harvesting.
While the challenges faced by villagers this season are significant, there is hope that the government and local authorities will take steps to ensure the sustainability of mopane worm harvesting in the future, allowing both the delicacy and the livelihoods of the people who depend on it to thrive.
In December and January, Matabeleland experienced consistent rainfall, with some areas receiving almost daily showers. However, villagers from Mopane and Mbonqane villages lamented that the rains came at an unfortunate time for mopane worm harvesting.
Mrs. Atallia Mhlanga from Mbonqane Village shared her frustrations: "This time, I harvested just two buckets, equivalent to two 20kg bags, compared to previous seasons when we made significant income from selling amacimbi. I will keep this season's harvest for my family only, I can't afford to sell any due to the low yield."
She explained that the heavy rainfall interfered with the timing of the harvest, as mopane worms grow rapidly and must be collected while they are still feeding on tree leaves. If they are not harvested on time, they burrow into the ground and disappear, making the harvest impossible.
"We received a lot of rain when we expected to start harvesting amacimbi. The rain didn't give us enough time to go into the wild to collect them," Mrs. Mhlanga added, expressing hope that the next harvest, expected in April, will be better.
Mrs. Evelyn Ngwenya, another villager, noted that there was a lack of influx from people outside the district, who usually travel to Bulilima in search of the delicacy. In previous years, this has led to conflict between locals and dealers from other regions. However, this year, the situation was different.
"In less than three weeks, amacimbi were gone. By the time outsiders heard that the season had started, there was nothing left to harvest. The difference between locals and outsiders is that we harvest amacimbi responsibly," Mrs. Ngwenya said. "Locals pick them from the trees or the ground, while outsiders cut down trees, leaving destruction in their wake."
She showed The Chronicle part of her 20kg harvest collected in early January, noting that the heavy rains made it difficult to gather the worms on time.
In Mopane village, Mr. Aleck Siziba expressed similar concerns, stating that despite favorable vegetation, few people in his area managed to have a good harvest. He remains hopeful, however, that with the rains expected to subside in April, the second phase of the mopane worm season will yield better results for the villagers.
The Bulilima Rural District Council took measures last year to manage the harvesting of amacimbi, recognizing the risk of over-harvesting and deforestation, which could lead to the depletion of mopane worm populations. In response to these concerns, the council implemented a system where individuals harvesting amacimbi would pay a fee to help fund local conservation efforts.
Mopane worms have long been a vital source of protein and income for communities in the Matabeleland region, as well as neighboring countries like Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia. Traditionally, locals have collected amacimbi from the wild and traded them to meet their basic needs. However, unsustainable harvesting practices, particularly near border regions, have begun to raise alarms about the long-term viability of the species.
In Botswana, the government has already banned commercial harvesting of mopane worms to allow the species to regenerate. Local authorities have stopped issuing harvesting permits to dealers, aiming to protect the worms' population for future seasons. In contrast, Zimbabwe has yet to impose a similar ban on commercial harvesting.
While the challenges faced by villagers this season are significant, there is hope that the government and local authorities will take steps to ensure the sustainability of mopane worm harvesting in the future, allowing both the delicacy and the livelihoods of the people who depend on it to thrive.
Source - the chroncile
