‘Food essential for national security’
ACCESS to sufficient and nutritious food is essential for national security, hence the radical thrust by Government to rehabilitate irrigation schemes to climate-proof agriculture and enhance productivity countrywide, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere has said.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the official commissioning of the 260-hectare Chiduku-Tikwiri Irrigation Scheme in Makoni West constituency, Manicaland province, on Friday.
The scheme was funded by the Government through the Public Sector Investment Programme.
“We must urgently transform our agriculture to improve production while mitigating climate change and restoring nature. Our ability to feed ourselves, now and into the future, depends on our capacity to produce and harvest a wide variety of nutritious foods,” Minister Muswere said.
“Of principal importance is that, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, there has been an acceleration of irrigation projects across the country to guarantee food security. This scheme underlines the importance of food security in that national security is no longer defined by geographical boundaries and borders, but also in terms of food security. The more a country imports food for its population, the less sovereign the country is in terms of vulnerability.”
Development of irrigation schemes across the country, he said, dovetails with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030.
“The 260ha irrigation scheme empowers 520 farmers in the Dzvairo area, under
Chief Makoni, including 230 youths. This will definitely transform livelihoods of many people. Improving agriculture and enhancing productivity through smallholder irrigation is one of the key strategies by Government to alleviate poverty and improve livelihoods of rural communities, where the majority of the poor depend directly on rain-fed agriculture.”
To attain Vision 2030, Minister Muswere added, there is need to increase agricultural production and productivity, especially by smallholder farmers.
“The completion of the scheme will increase yields manifold, stabilise output, enable crop diversification, reduce risk, increase incomes and employment. It will have a multiplier effect on beneficiary incomes and contribute to food security and poverty alleviation.”
Speaking at the same event, Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Misheck Mugadza said the Chiduku-Tikwiri Irrigation Scheme is one of the most important irrigation schemes in the province.
“It has a total of 260ha, benefiting 520 farmers . . . We hope the rehabilitation of this scheme transforms the livelihoods of the 520 farmers irrigating here,” he said.
“However, this can only be achieved if the farmers focus on improved production, productivity and farming as a business.”
Beneficiaries at the scheme are being assisted by several Government institutions — including the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, which has already seconded a business manager; Agricultural Marketing Authority; AFC Bank; and the Department of Irrigation.