Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
GORORO Irrigation Scheme in Chivi South District is delivering improved incomes, food security and climate resilience for 72 households as the Government and its partners intensify efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture in drought-prone areas.
The 50-hectare scheme, located in Ward 28, draws water from Tugwi-Mukosi Dam through a drag hose sprinkler system powered by a hybrid solar-electric energy supply, enabling year-round agricultural production.
Funded by the United Kingdom Government and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe, the project supports the national drive to transform rural communities from subsistence to commercially oriented agriculture.
Speaking at the commissioning of the scheme, Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira said irrigation development was critical to climate resilience in arid regions.
“In drought-prone districts like Chivi, irrigation schemes are lifelines. Gororo is not just about farming, it is about building a sustainable business hub and moving communities from subsistence to surplus,” he said.
In a speech read on his behalf, British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Pete Vowles said the Gororo Irrigation Scheme reflected inclusive, evidence-based development that places communities at the centre of economic transformation.
“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. This is development done right,” he said.
The scheme is anchored by a structured business plan and a functional Irrigation Management Committee that works with Government departments, development partners and financial institutions to ensure sustainability and market access.
Since becoming fully operational, the 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 under cultivation, farmers realised US$36 216 from recent harvests, while a further US$28 000 is expected from 10 hectares of green mealies currently being harvested.
This translates to an average income of about US$892 per household.
UNDP Resident Representative Mr Ayodele Odusola said access to structured markets, including export markets, marked a key 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.
