Beverly Bizeki
The Environment Management Agency (EMA) has reported that 29 730.31 hectares of land have been burnt down in Masvingo province since the beginning of the fire season which spans from 31 July to 31 October.
A document released by the Agency shows that most veld fires in the province are caused by land clearing.
“For the fires noted and attended to so far, 27% have been caused by land clearing, and 36% are unknown. Other causes documented are charcoal making, burning of waste, fireguard construction and suspected hunting,” read part of the document.
In the fight against veld fires, the Agency has managed to support the construction of fireguards on 28 farms, with a total length of 333.3km protecting 159 930 hectares of land.
The Agency also reportedly made efforts to fight veld fires by supporting the harvesting and production of hay bales which helps to reduce biomass that may are prone to burning.
“So far 7 464 hay bales have been prepared in Masvingo and Zaka districts, protecting an area measuring 415.2hectares,” read another part.
The document further states that EMA has supported 18 farm projects in Gutu, Masvingo and Zaka to harvest thatch grass bundles which like hay is prone to burning.
“So far 5 233 combed bundles have been produced, with a further 375 not yet combed. This has resulted in an area measuring 590.5 hectares being protected from veld fires,” read the document.
A Model anti-fire project with a total of 41 beneficiaries designed to serve as a model for fire management was also established in Bon Domi Farm in ward 1 in Zaka.
“The project components include the preparation of fire breaks around ash pits (ash pits have been observed over the years to be a source of uncontrolled veld fires), construction of a perimeter fireguard and fire breaks between plots, harvesting of grass for hay bales and thatch grass bundles.
“Beekeeping, hay bales and thatch grass harvesting are livelihood interventions within the project designed to help in fire suppression,” added the document.
To date, a fireguard measuring 26 km has been constructed around Bon Domi Farm and 88 hay bales and 405 thatch grass bundles produced and resultantly, no fire has been recorded on the farm so far.
