Japan completes US$18m irrigation scheme expansion
MAJOR works to expand and modernise Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme in Nyanga, in which US$18 million was injected by Japan, are complete with the Government putting final touches on its contractual obligations that were part of the deal.
Focus is now on levelling the surface on Bloc A, fencing and installation of electricity, which are being done by Government as part of the contractual agreement.
The Department of Irrigation in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural
Resettlement, with the technical partnership from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), is involved in the rehabilitation and development of the facility.
Konoike, of Japan and Masimba were the contractors involved in the scheme’s comprehensive rehabilitation and modernisation.
Expansion works stretched for two years. Provincial irrigation officer Engineer Tendai Chimunhu confirmed the development, adding that their pace was being hampered by fuel shortages.
“Major works are through, and we are currently working on land levelling in Block A, which is an additional 146 hectares. Blocks B, C and D measure 430 hectares.
Work is progressing well and ideally we would have liked to beat the onset of the rainy season, but our major challenge is fuel.
“Our allocation is meagre. We are allocated 600 litres per week as regulated by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera). We require bulky fuel supplies in the region of 5 000 litres to power the dozers and other equipment non-stop,” said Eng Chimunhu.
“Sometimes we are held back by non-availability of fuel, which puts to the fore the need for bulk allocation and storage on site. The new pump station is complete and apart from land levelling work is progressing well on fencing and installation of electricity on Blocks A and B. These were our contractual obligations. Tillage is also in progress in preparation for the forthcoming season,” said Eng Chimunhu.
The modernisation of Nyakomba will certainly increase productivity due to the expansion of the hectarage to be put under crop, improvement in water conveyance efficiency, strengthening of technical services and management of the scheme.
Nyakomba is one of the most critical irrigation schemes in the country established with support from Japan between 1997 and 2000.
Productivity at the scheme nose-dived as it suffered chronic lack of maintenance following flood damages in 2006 that resulted in pumps and canal networks failing to deliver sufficient irrigating water.
Crop yields and farmer incomes had thus fallen, exacerbating rural poverty in the dry part of Nyanga North.
Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe
Mr Yoshi Hiraish is on record as saying the expansion is a milestone development as water pumps and other irrigation infrastructure would be fully rehabilitated.
Mr Tambudzai Manyau said the future looks bright following the fixing of challenges confronting the scheme.
“It’s really a positive development and we are optimistic about the future,” he said.
The farmers are into maize, beans, peas, tabasco chilli, tomatoes, paprika and wheat production.
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CLOSE to $20 million was earmarked for irrigation development in the second quarter of 2019 as part of efforts to improve agricultural production in Manicaland, which has significantly been affected by the persistent droughts and the adverse effects of Cyclone Idai, which ravaged the province in March this year.
According to the second quarter Provincial Development Programme review report, Government under the inclusive economic growth pillar, prioritised water harnessing, irrigation rehabilitation and development, protection and management of natural resources to ensure economic and environmental sustainability, as a key strategy to economic emancipation.
An estimated 18 irrigation projects in the province were targeted, with some progress being recorded following the completion of Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme earlier in the quarter.
Close to 72 percent of Zimbabweans are employed in the agricultural sector but low production and productivity have kept land utilisation levels low.
The resuscitation of the agricultural sector remains key to improving the livelihoods of ordinary Zimbabweans.
However, only three percent of the country’s agriculture is under irrigation and this has had an impact on output, highlighting the urgent need to put more effort in irrigation development.
The Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme was a joint initiative between the governments of Zimbabwe and Japan with an investment of $15 million. The project saw the rehabilitation of 431 hactares which is already in use.
In Buhera, Government injected $176 000 for the ssupply and installation of a solar-powered pumping system as well as the supply and installation of a centre pivot at Mutunha Irrigation Scheme. Once complete, the project is expected to have a positive impact on almost 40 households.
In Chipinge, IFAD and FAO are spearheading the developments at Mutema and Musikavanhu schemes. Although progress at Mutema was delayed by damage inflicted by Cyclone Idai in March, there has been a move to consider rehabilitation under Cyclone Idai funding.
Other projects under rehabilitation include ChidukuTikwiri in Makoni, Hamamaoko, ArdaTransau and Mpudzi in Mutare as well as EnVante in Mutasa district.
Irrigation schemes in Chimanimani and some in Chipinge need to be relooked at in terms of specifications of the works needed as they were affected by Cyclone Idai.
With so much work being done towards ensuring increased utilisation of water in the dams, there are bound to be tangible results to efforts to mitigate the effects of El Nino and climate change due to lack of irrigation equipment.
With more irrigation schemes for smallholder farmers comes better yields that will boost food security.