malvernmugadzikwa
Theseus Shambare
“RE-ENGINEERING the financing model to radically shift from potential to performance.”
This is the cover message on the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development’s new strategic document titled “Comprehensive Irrigation Development Strategy”.
As the country battles the effects of climate change, which contributed to the 2023/2024 El Niño drought, this message highlights the importance of investing in idle or underutilised rich arable land for food security.
Under Government’s new irrigation revitalisation plan, approximately US$1,5 billion is required, which will be raised through public-private partnerships and international funding opportunities.
In pursuit of its bold and ambitious goals, the Government hosted the first-ever Zimbabwe Irrigation Investment Conference on Friday, which was presided over by President Mnangagwa.
“Irrigation development is critical to Zimbabwe’s agricultural growth, food security and economic prosperity. The country’s irrigation potential is substantial, but remains largely untapped,” reads part of the irrigation plan.
Potential
It is estimated that the country has the potential to irrigate 2 million hectares (ha).
However, only 10 percent is being utilised.
Dams are irrigating 217 000ha, with 80 percent of farmers, who mainly operate on a small scale, relying on rain-fed agriculture.
Low usage of the country’s irrigation capacity contributed largely to the failure of the 2023/2024 summer cropping season.
“Since we have 10 000 dams of various sizes, our national irrigation potential is 2 million ha. We have already seen the area under irrigation increase from 150 000ha in 2018 to 217 000ha in 2022. We are confident that our comprehensive strategy will unlock the country’s full irrigation potential,” said Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Vangelis Haritatos.
“By mitigating erratic rainfall patterns and allowing for multiple cropping seasons, irrigation empowers farmers to cultivate high-value crops, ensuring food security and adapting to the challenges of climate change.”
Under the new irrigation strategy, the country is targeting to put 500 000ha under irrigation.
This is a significant increase from the initial target of 350 000ha by 2025, outlined in the National Development Strategy 1.
This expansion will require significant investment in irrigation infrastructure, including construction of new dams, canals and pipelines.
Supporting smallholder farmers
Smallholder farmers are also being targeted.
The Smallholder Irrigation Rehabilitation Programme (SIRP) is a key component of the comprehensive strategy, as it plans to rehabilitate irrigation schemes that benefit over 10 000 smallholder farmers.
The SIRP is expected to receive US$200 million, which will be
used to rehabilitate existing irrigation infrastructure and provide training and support to smallholder farmers.
This programme will improve irrigation efficiency, increase crop yields and enhance farmers’ incomes.
Also, the Government is targeting to establish 35 000 village business units (VBUs), which translates to a business unit in each of the country’s 35 000 villages.
And each unit is expected to generate income for a minimum of 50 households.
“The target is to have a borehole drilled and equipped with solar power in each of the 35 000 villages across the eight rural provinces and a borehole for each of Zimbabwe’s 9 600 schools,” said spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Water Authority Mrs Marjorie Munyonga.
Each VBU, she said, will typically comprise a solar-powered borehole, water storage tanks, one-hectare drip technology garden and fishponds.
“Community members become both shareholders and employees of the VBU, with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) taking responsibility of the management of the units, while the Agricultural Marketing Authority comes in with market linkages.
“These are meant to create resilient communities,” added Mrs Munyonga.
Ongoing works
Currently, several dams, which are expected to increase the irrigable land by 38 953ha, are under construction in the country’s rural provinces.
Furthermore, 76 000ha are also available on dams that were completed in the past few years.
The Government’s strategy is targeting irrigation development using idle water bodies (that is, dams already commissioned) and dams under construction.
In some areas, there is limited water storage capacity, which hinders irrigation development, necessitating more dam construction.
However, the Government is exploring options for water harvesting and storage.
The authorities are also pushing for infield equipment in the form of centre and lateral pivots to be procured on a negotiated price.
As well, specific dam irrigation development projects will be allotted to a single dealer for comprehensive and turnkey design.
The Government’s new irrigation plan also proposes that pumping stations be designed on a case-by-case basis, in conjunction with irrigation contractors and established local pump dealers.
Capacity to handle land clearing, ripping, levelling and drainage works is also being developed.
Funds will be mobilised from the private sector and friendly nations.
ARDA, in conjunction with local beneficiaries, has been tasked to lead irrigated crop and livestock production on the projects.
Under the irrigation ventures currently being implemented, Maka Irrigation, a local company that manufactures, repairs and instals irrigation systems, is implementing projects that are mostly covering the 45 000ha targeted for rehabilitation and modernisation.
The financing of these programmes is coming from Treasury, under the Public Sector Investment Programme.
Funds are being advanced to banks for on-lending.
According to the 2024 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment, at least 1,7 million people in urban areas were left in need of food aid, while another six million in rural areas have been left vulnerable by the El Niño-induced drought.
However, with current efforts to develop irrigation, Zimbabwe, with its rich soils and climate, has the potential to reclaim its status as the breadbasket of Southern Africa.
Online Reporter