$26million for irrigation schemes rehab

Midlands Reporters
THE government has accessed $25.5 million from international humanitarian agency, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to be used in rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure across the country.

Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, Jason Machaya, said the funding would be channelled towards revitalising irrigation schemes.

“IFAD came here to see how we can resuscitate our irrigation schemes in the province. Already they’ve availed a fund of $25.5 million which will go towards the exercise for the whole country and as Midlands we expect to get a significant chunk of that money,” said Machaya.

“We’ve already identified a number of irrigation schemes and we’re focusing on those that are already established but need infrastructural rehabilitation and those that are non-operational because of non-payment of utility bills such as power and water.”

The minister hoped major irrigation schemes in the Midlands such as Insukamini, Mataga and Chawora among others, would benefit from the funding.

He said the province was targeting revitalising 25 irrigation schemes and putting at least 6,000 hectares under maize, which will go a long way in enhancing food security.

“From the figures we’ve from Agritex, if we put 6,000 hectares under maize with an average yield of eight to 10 tonnes per hectare, then we’ll be self sufficient in food security as a province.

“We’re also identifying places where there are water bodies in the province so that we can also embark on other irrigation projects,” added Machaya.

Revitalising irrigation schemes is expected to mitigate the effects of drought in the country where three million people are said to be in dire need of food aid.

Meanwhile, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister, Joseph Made, has said the government will increase food aid in the province from 3,000 metric tonnes to 6,000 metric tonnes of maize per month, which is being channelled to about 88,000 vulnerable families.

He said Mberengwa, Zvishavane and Gokwe North and South Districts would receive huge portions of food relief as they have been hit hard by the drought.