Nomthandazo Ndlovu
ABALIMI sebekhuthazwe ukuthi balime irayisi (rice) ebizwa ngokuthi ngumphungo elombala oluthuli ngoba iyavuma endaweni ezingelazulu elinengi njengesabelweni seMatabeleland South.
Ekhuluma loMthunywa uMnumzana George Mutatavikwa wenhlanganiso yeAgronomy Research Institute uthe umphunga ingumhlobo werayisi elungele ukulinywa endaweni ezingatholi izulu elinengi.
“Umphunga uyavuma endaweni ezingelazulu elinengi njengeMatabeleland, abalimi abanengi bakwazi irayisi kuyisilimo esidinga amanzi amanengi kodwa-ke le yona kayidingi amanzi amanengi.
“Lalabo abenza i-irrigation balakho ukuyilima njengoba nje iyabe idinga amanzi angaba yi 800mm,” kutsho uMnu Mutatavikwa.
UMnu Mutatavikwa uqhubekele phambili wathi okuqakathekileyo yikuthi abalimi okumele bakwazi yikuba irayisi le ilinywa ngasiphi isikhathi somnyaka.
“Irayisi le ayihambelani lomqando, ngakho abalimi kumele bayilime ngesikhathi sokutshisa okuyabe kuyinyanga kaMpandula kusiya kunyanga kaMabasa, lesi yiso isikhathi esihle lapho umlimi asengathola khona lesivuno esiphezulu,” kuchaza uMnu Mutatavikwa.
“Okunye njalo okuqakathekileyo yikuthi abalimi bahlolise umhlabathi wabo ukuze bazi ukuthi kufuneka umvundiso ongakanani nxa bezayilima.
“Ukhula ngenye into umlimi okumele ayinanzelele kumalanga angamatshumi amabili okuqala eyihlanyele, umlimi sengayenza i-crop rotation ukuze isilimo sakhe lesi singahlaselwa kakhulu lukhula kanye lama-herbicides ukuze abulale ukhula lolu,” kuphetha uMnu Mutatavikwa.