adminTWO out of a total of five irrigation schemes in Gwanda South have folded with one of them having last worked in 2000 after equipment at the scheme was affected by Cyclone Eline, it has been learnt.
Of the five irrigation schemes in the district only Guyu-Chelesa, Sukwe and Mankonkoni irrigation schemes are working while Sibasa and Rustlers’ Gorge irrigation schemes have not been working for a number of years due to obsolete equipment with Sibasa being the most affected after its equipment broke down due to Cyclone Eline.
Sunday News visited Mankonkoni irrigation scheme where the agricultural extension supervisor for Gwanda South, Mr Uteng Nare said they were pushing to ensure that all the schemes became operational but were facing a number of funding problems to rehabilitate equipment at the irrigation schemes that were not working.
“Guyu and Sukwe irrigation schemes are now fully functional after they were rehabilitated through the community share ownership scheme, which has really gone a long way in assisting villagers in this scheme. Mankonkoni is also working owing to the support we have got from a number of non-governmental organisations chipping in, assisting in the rehabilitation of a further eight hectares to add on to the current 42 hectares.
“It is however, unfortunate that both Sibasa and Rustlers’ Gorge are not working. Sibasa, which is 65 hectares, last worked in the year 2000 when the scheme’s equipment and bridge was destroyed by Cyclone Eline. We have had 15 farmers staying there to keep any eye on Government equipment, but we remain hopeful that we shall receive funds that will see us rehabilitating the scheme,” said Mr Nare.
At Rustlers’ Gorge irrigation scheme the agricultural extension supervisor said while the engines were down, farmers within the scheme were contributing money to buy new engines to revive the scheme.
“It is fortunate that we recently got a donor to put up solar at Sibasa, Mankonkoni and Rustlers and we are already in the process of training farmers in these schemes on leadership and production.
“Farmers who fall under Rustlers’ Gorge irrigation scheme are also contributing $50 each for the purchase of new engines so that for the time being, before these solar panels are set up they can be doing something,” he said.
Mr Nare revealed that at Mankonkoni, which was operating at almost full capacity; farmers were already preparing to plant a maize crop in a portion of the scheme after they had missed the deadline to plant the winter wheat.
“Here we are now preparing to plant some maize crop after we failed to meet the deadline for the winter wheat planting, we have 48 farmers here and with the additional eight hectares that has been rehabilitated by a donor we expect that this figure will increase.
“The donor has also managed to restore our night storage and canals therefore I am confident that come September this whole area will be green with both maize and wheat crops, as we will be planting another maize crop in August,” said Mr Nare.
Online Reporter