10 more irrigation schemes to be commissioned in second quarter

ANOTHER 10 irrigation schemes are set for commissioning in the second quarter after a batch of eight slated for April and May as President Mnangagwa’s initiative to transform rural villages into vibrant greenbelts advances rapidly.

The first eight schemes to be commissioned are in four provinces with 1 700 households expected to benefit from the 857ha they cover.

This is part of Government’s efforts to climate-proof the country’s agriculture and ensure food security, as the country moves towards becoming a net exporter of agricultural produce in the region.

While the adoption of irrigation is inspired by the need to combat adverse effects of climate change, it will also help farmers diversify their farming operations and allow them to grow crops all year round rather than just seasonally.

Portlet Irrigation Scheme in Mashonaland West will cover 80ha and benefit 160 households while Katsvenzve in the same province will sit on 60ha and benefit 120 households.

Four irrigation schemes in Masvingo will be also commissioned. Lowlands Irrigation Scheme will benefit 80 households from its 40ha, Nyika Irrigation Scheme will benefit 36 households from 18ha, Mushandike Irrigation Scheme will benefit 108 households from its 54ha while Pikinini Tawanda Irrigation will cover 312 households from 156ha.

In Mashonaland Central, Maparo Irrigation Scheme will benefit 430 households from 215ha while in Midlands Mambanjeni Irrigation Scheme will benefit 178 households from 89ha.

Mambale Irrigation Scheme in Matabeleland South will benefit 110 households from 55ha while Bambanani Irrigation Scheme in the same province will support 180 households from 90ha.

In a recent interview, irrigation development director with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Engineer Bezzel Chitsungo said Government was committed to ensuring that irrigation schemes remained functional to fight the effects of climate change. “Government will ensure that irrigation schemes produce sustainably and serve as income generating projects. We are pushing to empower farmers. Many have acquired wealth through irrigation. You can produce crops twice or more a year and make maximum profits,” he said

Government is targeting 460 irrigation schemes for maize as efforts to improve agricultural production are escalated to mitigate effects of climate change.

About 90 000ha of potential irrigable land have also been identified for maize when the Government scaled up efforts to boost food production in the face of and El Nino season.