CABBAGE PRODUCTION IN THE RAINY SEASON

By Penjani Nzima

THE onset of the rainy season comes along with numerous challenges and disease outbreaks both in crops as well as livestock because mostly bacteria does multiply very quickly in these humid conditions.

As it rains, the vegetable farmer who is intending to grow cabbages will not have it easy in the sence that one way or another the vegetables (cabbages) will definitely suffer from a variety of diseases mostly bacterial related.

According to Enerst Mwiimbe Jr, an upcoming small-scale vegetable farmer and winner of the Agri-Coop award of Innovative Cabbage farmer of the year 2022 disclosed to this reporter that cabbage is nota very complicated crop to grow.

Mr. Mwiim be emphasized that growing it (cabbages) during the rainy season becomes expensive due to numerous pests that affect the crop resulting into various bacterial infections in the end.

He said among the many bacterial infections that rakes havoc on cabbages during this time of the year (rainy season) the most common one is Black rot. This is a bacterial infection that causes extensive damage to cabbages.

“They have to be very careful if they have to do it now. They have to reserve money for pesticides. You can’t control the rain at least during dry season or summer it is easier because you just pour a little water on the heads.  The bad part is about bacterial rot that’s the main challenge that you experience during the rainy season,” he indicated.

Mr. Mwiimbe is cautioning the would-be cabbage farmers to be very cautious on how they undertake their cabbage projects more especially during this time of the year.  

“If they want to do it for business maybe I would say if they’re doing it for the first time let them not do on a large scale again it depends on the area where they will do it from if they have an idea what kind of pests attacks their crops in their area,” he said.

Look out for more exciting news in the next month’s edition under crop production as Mr. Enerst Mwiimbe discusses in details on Cabbage Black rot the causes, symptoms and control. Enerst Mwiimbe is a holder of bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Science from Mulungushi University.

‍