MBABANE: Nhlanhla Dlamini,an Extension Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has advised maize farmers to exercise patience and avoid panic after hailstorms.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Thursday, the Extension Officer said hailstorms normally occurred early in the season when maize plants were still at ground level.
“Maize plants have an amazing capacity to recover from early season damage but patience is required to allow the damaged plants enough time to visibly demonstrate whether they will recover or not.Damaged but viable plants show noticeable recovery within three (3) to seven(7)days,”he said.
Hailstorms have in recent weeks hit several areas in the Highveld of Eswatini and damaged maize fields,thus forcing farmers to replant their crops.
AGRICULTURE MINISTRY’S ADVICE AMID HAILSTORM: Maize farmers should not panic, plants might recover.