Mzimba district agriculture crops officer Julius Banda has advised farmers to diversify their crops during the 2025/26 farming season to cushion themselves against unpredictable weather patterns.
His advice follows the announcement by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services on Thursday that Mzimba District will receive normal to above normal rainfall punctuated by dry spells in some months.
Said Banda: “The weather forecast shows that despite Mzimba expecting to receive normal to above normal rainfall. The forecast also says there will be some pockets of drought in some months.
“Due to that uncertainty of rainfall in some months, our advice to farmers is to diversify crops to ensure high productivity. They should also practise modern farming such as crop rotation, plant drought resistant crops and follow soil conservation methods.”
He appealed to extension workers to help farmers get the messages on weather patterns.
“In seasons of weather uncertainties, it is crucial for extension workers to spread messages on the importance of planting crops such as cassava and sweet potatoes,” said Banda.
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services assistant aviation meteorologist Joshua Mvula said Mzimba is expected to receive adequate rainfall during the 2025/26 farming season.
“But there is chance that it will be above normal rainfall, according to National Seasonal Forecast Statement,” he said.
Mvula said the rainy season is expected to begin mid-December and continue up to April 2026.
In a separate interview, Luwerezi Extension Planning Area extension planning officer Alexander Chisi said the forecast will help farmers prepare for potential hazards and find ways of addressing them to improve their productivity.
He said he will encourage farmers to grow cassava and sweet potatoes to ensure they have food.
