Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
MTSHABEZI Irrigation Scheme farmers in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South, are contributing significantly towards boosting food and nutrition security in the province after harvesting maize and sugar beans in their fourth crop cycle.
The farmers are in the process of harvesting 20 hectares of sugar beans and 15 hectares of maize. They project to harvest 60 tonnes of maize and 12 tonnes of sugar beans.
In 2021, the Government revitalised the Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme under its Accelerated Rural Development and Industrialisation Drive in line with Vision 2030.
The Government released funds to develop infrastructure such as the installation of water pipes and pumps and the procurement of a centre pivot.
The irrigation scheme had been a pipe dream for 87 years. Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme farmers are utilising 45 hectares of land which is under a centre pivot.
The scheme has 200 hectares of arable land with 112 plotholders from six villages in Ward 6.
Speaking recently during a visit to the irrigation scheme by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, the chairman of the scheme, Mr Ndabezinhle Nyoni, said they have transformed their project into a reliable food source with limited resources.
The farmers’ first harvest at the irrigation scheme was a wheat yield of 42 tonnes in 2022 which they delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
“Since the irrigation scheme was established, we have done our level best to keep our scheme productive.
“For now, we have been able to irrigate 45 hectares, and at the moment we have sugar beans and maize which we are in the process of harvesting,” said Mr Nyoni.
“We are glad that our crops have done well. Ever since this irrigation scheme was started, we have guaranteed food security despite the prevailing El Nino-induced drought.”
Mr Nyoni said they need to be capacitated to irrigate the entire 200 hectares.
He said they need two more centre pivots and farming equipment.
A farmer at the irrigation scheme, Mrs Margaret Phiri, said their community will have enough food this year.
Another farmer and village health worker, Ms Juliet Mengise, said the Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme will go a long way in addressing nutrition challenges in the community.
“This year, we have sugar beans which are a good source of protein.
“Ordinarily, some members of the community wouldn’t be able to buy this rich food from the shops,” she said.
“We were able to produce these sugar beans and going forward we will introduce a variety of crops which will ensure that we have healthy diets.”
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Mr Felix Saul Maburutse, said if given the necessary support and resources, Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme could become a major food source for the country.
“We came here as a committee to assess whether the water that we have in dams is being put to good use to ensure food and nutrition security in the face of climate change. As a committee, we are pleased with the work being done by the farmers here,” he said.
“This irrigation scheme has vast potential to mitigate climate change. The community is growing sugar beans and maize and from what we have heard as a committee, the surrounding communities will also benefit from the scheme.”
Mr Maburutse commended efforts by the Government for ensuring that water sources support irrigation schemes.
Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme is being managed by the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda), and is set to transform subsistence agriculture at the household level into commercial agriculture as part of rural development and industrialisation.
The scheme was established as part of an integrated business model that is being replicated across all provinces in the country as part of the National Food Security Strategy. — @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter