Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
The Gororo Irrigation Scheme in Chivi South is improving rural incomes and strengthening climate resilience for 72 households as Government and its development partners scale up climate-smart agricultural production in drought-prone areas.
The 50-hectare scheme, located in Ward 28, is funded by the United Kingdom and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe.
It draws water from the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam through a drag-hose sprinkler system powered by a hybrid solar-electric energy supply, enabling year-round agricultural production.
The scheme supports the Government’s thrust to transform rural agriculture from subsistence to commercially-oriented production, anchored by a structured business plan and a functional Irrigation Management Committee that works with relevant Government departments, development partners and financial institutions.
Speaking during the commissioning of the scheme, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira, said the project was a critical intervention for communities vulnerable to climate change.
“In drought-prone districts like Chivi, irrigation schemes are lifelines,” he said.
“Gororo is not just about farming, it is about building a sustainable business hub and moving communities from subsistence to surplus.”
Since becoming fully operational, the Gororo Irrigation Scheme has recorded three successful harvests, producing more than 68 tonnes of maize, beans and winter wheat.
Farmers have also diversified into high-value crops such as chillies and sugar beans under commercial contract farming arrangements.
From 36,5 hectares currently under cultivation, farmers realised US$36 216 from recent harvests, while a further US$28 000 is expected from 10 hectares of green mealies now being harvested.
This translates to an average income of about US$892 per household.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Sam Thompson, Head of Human Development and Inclusion at the British Embassy, Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Pete Vowles, said the scheme demonstrated the impact of inclusive, evidence-based development approaches.
“The scheme reflects the voices and needs of the community. It is guided by evidence and science and designed to address the real challenges farmers face in this region,” he said.
UNDP Resident Representative Mr Ayodele Odusola said access to structured markets, particularly export markets, marked a major milestone for the scheme.
“Farmers at Gororo have secured contract farming arrangements with leading chilli exporter Whitney Paprika, opening markets in Germany, Spain and the United States,” he said.
“From a three-hectare pilot, farmers have already sold 360 kilogrammes of chilli, with harvesting ongoing.”
The scheme is supported by coordinated partnerships that link farmers to input suppliers and buyers, improving access to seed, technical services and predictable markets while reducing exposure to climate and price shocks.
UNDP and its partners are working with the Government to strengthen the scheme’s long-term sustainability through enhanced financial inclusion, oversight of a revolving loan fund beyond the project’s lifespan and plans to operationalise infrastructure insurance.
With stable production, diversified crops and expanding markets, the Gororo Irrigation Scheme is contributing to improved food security and local economic growth in Chivi, while serving as a replicable model for climate-smart rural development in Zimbabwe.
