Gokwe-Chireya steps up gully reclamation efforts
THE Gokwe north community is intensifying efforts to improve land use management as land degradation continues to wreak havoc in the low lying district.
A recent stakeholder workshop on conservation revealed that Gokwe is losing 15 000 tonnes of soil per hectare due to land degradation.
The World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) has so far injected $750 000 towards the reclamation of Chireya gulley which is threatening the nearby Chireya hospital and schools.
WWF land management specialist Debra Magwada said they had taken a holistic approach towards environmental challenges and were working with various Government departments.
“Our approach to the environmental challenges in Gokwe is not only focusing on gully reclamation, but we are working with the Environmental Management Agency, Forestry Commission, Agritex and the local rural council to tackle and address all land management challenges,” she said.
A total budget of $1,3 million has been availed by the WWF to restore the gulley along Ume River.
The restoration project would also culminate in livelihoods projects for the farmers within the catchment area.
Meanwhile, Community leaders in Gokwe north are optimistic that the reclamation of Chireya gulley in Chireya area will connect the rural area to development
Chireya ward 9 councillor Faith Maronge said the reclamation of Chireya gulley would improve community access to health, education and other essential infrastructure adding that more youth and women should be incorporated in the project so that they appreciate environmental stewardship.
“Currently the environmental committee is made up of village heads and ward leaders. It is important that more youth and women join in for the sake of posterity”. VILLAGERS in Mberengwa have appealed to Government to assist them with ammonium nitrate fertiliser to resuscitate their dying crops.
Most farmers in Mberengwa said their crops were in a critical state and that there is urgent need of ammonium nitrate.
Chief Maziofa of Mberengewa said there was an urgent need for the fertilizers after the recent heavy rains.
“We are appealing for assistance from the Government as our crops are in a bad state. After the recent rains, the crops are in dire need of ammonium nitrate fertiliser which we don’t have at the moment,” said Chief Maziofa.
He said most crops have turned yellow due to lack of nitrogen.
“The leaves of the crops have turned yellow due to lack of nitrogen. If this problem is not addressed, it could impact negatively on our harvest,” he said.
Most crops in the Midlands were in a bad state due to the prolonged dry spell in January, but following the above normal rains received in most parts of the country recently some of the crops have recovered.