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George Maponga in MASVINGO
THE Government is forging ahead with the Chilonga lucerne project in northern Chikombedzi, amid ongoing consultations with the local community to ensure buy-in for the initiative’s phased implementation.
The project envisages the development of 15 000 hectares (ha) for growing lucerne, a legume used as animal feed, as well as cereals for human consumption.
The phased rollout will involve establishing model irrigation plots for the cultivation of both lucerne and food crops like maize, wheat and traditional grains.
This approach seeks to build community understanding and support for the project, whose overall objective is to facilitate rural industrialisation and modernisation in northern Chikombedzi.
Dendairy, a Kwekwe-based milk processor, is the principal investor in the project, which has since garnered backing from villagers, as it promises employment creation, modernisation of the Chilonga area and improved food security in the arid region.
The revised Chilonga irrigation development project will also involve the revival and expansion of the existing irrigation scheme.
The current scheme is not functioning at full capacity due to various challenges, including water scarcity in the silted Runde River, frequent pump breakdowns and old water canals. Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Ezra Chadzamira told The Sunday Mail that consultations among the Government, the investor and local communities were ongoing.
“We are continuing with consultations with the local leadership in Chilonga so that they fully comprehend that the Government’s intention is to bring development to their area,” said Minister Chadzamira.
“We are not going to allow a situation where people lose their land, but these consultations help us to reach common ground on the plans that we have for the area to make sure that Chilonga attains food security and also that there is rural industrialisation and development which is in sync with Vision 2030.
“Our hope is that the Chilonga area will be a lucerne-growing region, and, at the same time, communities should also have the capacity to grow their own food under irrigation, taking advantage of the abundant water that can be tapped for that purpose.
“We are targeting about 15 000ha that will be under lucerne and other crops in the Chilonga area and this whole belt will be under irrigation.”
Once the project takes off, farmers in Chilonga will supply the legume to a processing factory set to be established in the area to value-add the grass before it is shipped via rail to the market.
Minister Chadzamira said the project will be implemented in phases.
The first phase will entail fixing the existing irrigation infrastructure to ensure the community is food-secure.
“The project will now be implemented in phases so that we create models for others to appreciate its efficacy in uplifting their living standards and also ensuring household food security,” he said.
“Phase one entails revival of the Chilonga irrigation scheme to ensure food security in the area and also the development of model lucerne irrigation plots, which we hope will lead to increased buy-in for the project, which is a game-changer for Chilonga and surrounding areas.”
Masvingo province’s economy was agro-based, Minister Chadzamira added, emphasising the importance of fully exploiting water bodies in the region.
He also said Chiredzi district was ideal for anchoring the province’s irrigation development drive due to its flat terrain and fertile soils.
The Government continues to reiterate that it has no intention to displace the Chilonga community.
Online Reporter