Mushandike irrigation gets $10m pipeline boost
MASVINGO’s biggest irrigation scheme, Mushandike is set for a major expansion in the next five years with Government planning to build a $10 million pipeline that will supply additional irrigation water from the underutilised Muzhwi Dam in northern Chivi.
Mushandike Irrigation Scheme straddles over 800 hectares, but only slightly above 200 hectares are under irrigation.
Government wants to expand the irrigation scheme to 3 000ha by 2023.
The irrigation scheme gets water supplies from Mushandike Dam.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister (Cropping) Davis Marapira said Government would finance the construction of the pipeline linking Muzhwi Dam and Mushandike Irrigation Scheme.
“The project is within Government’s priorities and once sufficient funds have been mobilised, work on the project will start,” he said.
“As Government, we want to see Mushandike being expanded to 3 000ha, taking advantage of that water from Muzhwi, which is upstream, which will be easily conveyed to the irrigation scheme through gravity.”
Deputy Minister Marapira said Government wanted major irrigation schemes to employ latest irrigation technology that saved water, which is increasingly becoming scarce due to effects of climate change.
“We need to revolutionise irrigation by embracing latest irrigation technology which is efficient and therefore more profitable,” he said.
“Water is becoming scarce and we need to employ technology that reduces wastage of water.”
Deputy Minister Marapira said Mushandike had the potential to be a major source of food and green produce to the nearby Masvingo City.
There was also urgent need to revamp the canal system at Mushandike which was affecting farmers through rampant loss of water.
Mushandike has over 200 plot holders who specialise in maize and wheat production.
The once thriving scheme is now a shadow of its former self as shortage of water is drawing back full utilisation of all the irrigable land.
The proposed pipeline from Muzhwi Dam will see the irrigation scheme reclaim its position as the largest in the drought-prone Masvingo province.
Muzhwi Dam remains underutilised locally, with its water supplying Lowveld sugar cane plantations at Triangle and Hippo Valley estates, hundreds of kilometres away.