Chronicle Editor
Johnsias Mutonhori – [email protected]
LANDS, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka has called on small-scale farmers who are beneficiaries of Government funded revitalised irrigation schemes to implement strategies that enhance self-sustenance and boost food and nutrition security.
The minister’s call comes at a time when the Second Republic is pushing towards the industrialisation of the agriculture value chain in rural areas through the maximisation of productivity and profitability.
Through rural industrialisation, Government hopes to stem rural-to-urban migration, which saps growth from the African countryside, transferring it to towns and cities.
Rural industrialisation, which hinges on the Second Republic’s devolution policy, involves nurturing agro-processing start-up enterprises in rural areas through financial and technological support via venture capital funding and Government agencies.
Addressing, farmers during the commissioning of the 103-hectare Hamamavhaire Irrigation Scheme in Mvuma recently, Dr Masuka said farmers in revitalised irrigation schemes must operate at full capacity to enhance sustainability.
“Government is targeting to rehabilitate 450 irrigation schemes covering 26 000 ha by 2025 and this can only be achieved if farmers focus on improved production, productivity, and transforming farming into a business,” he said.
“This will in turn, enhance incomes, increase opportunities for value addition and the development of the agribusiness value chain and support its sustainability while Government channels funds to other new projects.”
Dr Masuka said so far, 304 irrigation schemes have now been transformed into an innovative business model, which seeks to address scheme viability, governance, and sustainability.
Under the Smallholder Irrigation Program (SIRP), Government partnered with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to revitalise irrigation schemes, most of which have been lying idle for years.
Last week, a total of 834 hectares was commissioned in the Midlands, Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces.
In addition to Hamamavhaire Irrigation Scheme, Government commissioned the 442-ha Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme in Matabeleland South province, the 80-ha Nyahombe Irrigation Scheme in Masvingo, the 168-ha irrigation scheme in Silobela and the 41-ha Insukamini Irrigation Scheme both in the Midlands province.
Speaking during the same event, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) chief executive officer Mr Tinotenda Mhiko said the revival of irrigation schemes coupled with the new agriculture business model has great prospects of producing sufficient food for the country and employment creation.
“Irrigation development remains the key in climate proofing our agricultural production from the vagaries of climate change, as we journey towards food self-sufficiency and free our national fiscus from the pressure on import funding requirements,” he said.
“These schemes are now under the management of the revolutionary Vision 2030 Accelerator model where they will be produced as blocks under the management of a resident Arda scheme business manager on the back of a profitable business case to ensure scheme viability and subsequent sustainability.’
Mr Mhiko said under the Vision 2030 Accelerator model, the irrigation schemes are expected to produce a combined 8 757 tonnes of grain annually for two seasons.
He urged farmers to take seriously the agribusiness being championed by Government as it contributes to job creation and improving the livelihood of people in line with Vision 2030.
“The multiplier effect of this Government intervention cannot be ignored as it is estimated to achieve the upper middle-income society per capita income of US$4 000 of over a million households across all the 450 irrigation schemes in the country,” said Mr Mhiko.
He said the schemes will also create over 4 100 direct and indirect jobs along the agriculture model value chain.
Hamamavhaire Irrigation Scheme is one of the beneficiaries of SIRP with an irrigable land of 103 ha on a total gross space of 265 ha.
The scheme has a total of 118 farmers, among them youth.
The chairperson of the scheme, Mr Emanuel Chadenga commended Government for supporting farming in the countryside, saying they are now able to sustain their lives from the money earned through farming.
“I want to thank Government for coming up with a smallholder irrigation rehabilitation programme, especially in this area where rainfall is not reliable for crop production. Prior to the latest development, our scheme faced total collapse with pipes and valves leaking,” he said.
“I am happy most of the farmers are making profits and evidently, their lives have transformed. Government also gave us chickens and goats to enhance meat production for Hamamavhaire villagers to promote food nutrition.”
When Hamamavhaire Irrigation Scheme was established in 1992, it had 98 beneficiaries with each farmer cultivating one hectare of land.
Online Reporter