adminMichael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
The revitalisation of Exchange and Mayorca irrigation schemes has given hope to about 1 500 Silobela villagers.
In an interview, Silobela legislator Cde Mthokozisi Manoki Mpofu said Silobela was one of the districts that had two irrigation schemes in the Midlands province.
He said the two irrigation schemes were recently rehabilitated under the Government’s Irrigation Revitalisation Scheme.
“We are fortunate enough to have some of the biggest irrigation schemes in the province and this has given hope to villagers whose crops did not do well in the fields due to erratic rainfall patterns,” said Cde Mpofu.
Cde Mpofu said Exchange Irrigation Scheme measuring 170 hectares was the biggest with over 1 000 plot holders, while Mayorca Irrigation Scheme had 76 hectares and benefited over 500 farmers.
“Plot holders from these irrigation schemes are now harvesting the maize crop and are now concentrating on horticulture with tomatoes, soya beans, vegetables and onions now being planted,” he said.
Cde Mpofu said plans were in the pipeline to have two more irrigation schemes in the area.
Online Reporter