Irrigation schemes operate below capacity

 

The 11 irrigation schemes cover 542 hectares and are used by about 900 households.

The irrigation schemes include Masholomoshe, Silikwe, Makwe, Tuli Lushongwe, Gaswa, Makonkoni, Rustlers Gorge, Sukwe, Guyu-Chelesa, Mademe and Buvuma.

Gwanda district Agritex officer Mr Mkhunjulwa Ndlovu said irrigation schemes in the district were          operating below capacity because of a shortage of equipment and damaged pumps.

“Our irrigation systems are operating below capacity and out of the eight that are functional, six have broken down engines.

“Villagers and farmers have tried to repair some of them but their efforts seem to be in vain,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said as a result, a number of farmers shunned wheat planting as the crop depended on irrigation.

“I doubt if many farmers planted wheat this season since the irrigation systems use what is called flood irrigation whereby water is collected through pipes into a tank but because engines are down, the systems are not performing to capacity,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said there was sufficient water for irrigation in the province and the malfunctioning engines hindered winter cropping thereby fuelling poverty.

He challenged farmers to make the best use of the available resources and have a business approach, as this would assist them in determining the overall cost of the farming  process.

The vice chairperson of the Zimbabwe Farmers Union in Matabeleland South, Mrs Sister Moyo, said most irrigation farmers in the province had resorted to planting beans but also doubted if they would get a bumper harvest owing to challenges they were facing.

Matabeleland South province is found in natural ecological Region  Five that receives low rainfall, which is insufficient for crop production.

It is one of the driest areas in the country and has not been receiving adequate rain in the past years leaving many people without food and impoverished.

The erratic rains this season left farmers in most parts of the country concerned about the food situation for them and their livestock.