2017 Lilongwe ADD Weather Situation

2017 Lilongwe ADD Weather Situation

The ADD experienced warm to hot and sometimes very hot during the day and night hours and winds blowing from different direction since inception of the summer season. The skies were clear to partly cloudy and cloudy in some days. Winds were light to moderate and blowing from different directions. The ADD experienced some dry spells for about three weeks from mid-December to first week of January. This has affected crop development and mild wilting of maize and other crops was observed. 

Rainfall

• The ADD started receiving effective planting rains from November, 2017  in all the districts.The ADD, however, experienced a two week dry spell in Golomoto,Mtakataka, Mayani,Linthipe and Kaphuka EPAs in Dedza and Manjawira, Bilira and Sharpe Vale in Ntcheu district. Generally, the onset of rains this season has been earlier than same time last year but with uneven distribution.Mean rainfall recorded is 330.9 mm in 18 rain days which is less than what was recorded same time last year, 351.6 mm in 21 rainy days. 
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Effects of Weather on Crop and Livestock Production

The ADD experienced early rains this year compared to last year but the distribution is poor with some dry spells which had the following repercussions on both crops and livestock.

 Positive Effects of weather on Crop Production

The early rains had the following effects:

• Good crop germination.
• Good crop development.
• The rainfall pattern offered opportunities for weeding and other crop management practices

 Negative Effects of Weather on Crop Production

• Ntcheu District experienced some heavy rainfall in December which caused flooding especially in Kandeu EPA on 29th December, 2017. Wash-aways of some field crops were also experienced. 
• Dry spells triggered fall army worm infestation and wilting
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Effect of Weather on Livestock and Pasture Development

 Positive Effects.

The good weather situation had the following effects:

• Good crop and Pasture germination and development.
• The rainfall encouraged establishment of pasture
• Improved availability of water and feed for animals.
• Farmers were able to construct and maintain kholas.

Negative Effects.

Rains in some areas resulted into stressed animals due to muddy kholas.

• Drying up of water bodies rendering animals move long distances searching for drinking water and feed resulting in weight body losses. 
• Tick activity and risk of tick borne diseases increased but this was controlled with strategic dipping.

Nonetheless, the rainfall positively affected establishment of pasture and farmers continued conserving different types of feed for supplementation during lean period as shown in Table 1 and 2 below.

Table 1: Pasture and fodder crops established

Table 2 : Animal feed conservation 2017-18