Chronicle Editor
Harare Bureau
In line with President Mnangagwa’s thrust of turning villages into greenbelts, 2 222 farmers are set to reap huge benefits from the 11 smallholder irrigation schemes that are ready for commissioning.
The irrigation schemes have the capacity of 2 000 hectares.
The irrigation schemes are Madhodha in Mhondoro Ngezi, Mashonaland West, Musaverema in Mwenezi, Masvingo, Matobo, in Midho in Matabeleland South, Mankonkoni, Gwanda in Matabeleland South, Mambanjeni, Gweru in Midlands, Ngezi Mamina, Chegutu, Mashonaland West. Cashel Valley in Chimanimani, Manicaland, Mlibizi in Binga, Matabeleland North, Romsley in Makoni, Manicaland and Chibuwe in Chipinge, Manicaland. Of these irrigation schemes Cashel Valley is leading with 800 beneficiaries.
The scheme has a capacity of 602ha followed by Chibuwe with 400 beneficiaries and an irrigation capacity of 367ha. Romsley has 315 beneficiaries with a capacity to irrigate 384ha while Ngezi Mamina has 298 beneficiaries with a capacity to irrigate 266,5ha. Last year the Government commissioned more than 15 irrigation schemes. This is part of efforts to climate-proof the country’s agriculture and ensure food security. This also means that the nation is moving towards being the net exporter of agricultural produce in the region.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Irrigation Development Director Dr Eng Bezzel Chitsungo said climate change is no longer predictable adding that there is a need to accelerate irrigation development to ensure food security.
“Our goal is to delink food security from rainfall. In that context, Irrigation Development becomes a key cog in pursuant of that goal, which is guided by our National Development Strategy 1 and Vision 2030 programming targets.
“Our sector strategy is the National Accelerated Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Programme (NAIRDP) under which the projected area to be under irrigation is 496 000 ha, to be made up of the current developed and functional area of 217 000 ha, and 275 000 ha additional area required during summer, which is meant to increase area available for maize production from the current average of 75 000ha to 350 000ha, which is the minimum irrigated area needed to assure the nation of food self-sufficiency,” he said.
An estimated production of 1,8 million tonnes of maize is anticipated from this targeted 350 000ha during summer, and an additional minimum of 1,4 million tonnes of wheat will be produced in winter, making Zimbabwe a net exporter of wheat whose production is adequate to feed the whole nation. In 2024, 14 961 ha was achieved, with Government and Development partners contributing 3051ha under rehabilitation and the private sector through the Irrigation Development Alliance contributing 11 910ha under new developments. The country has 460 smallholder irrigation schemes which can irrigate 26 000ha.
The country has the potential to irrigate two million hectares of land if all the existing dams and those under construction are fully utilised.
Online Reporter