adminGeorge Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Government has started working on the 100-hectare irrigation scheme in Bota communal lands in Zaka, expected to enhance food security in one of Masvingo Province’s most arid districts.
The scheme, expected to cost $300 000, will tap irrigation water from the nearby Bangala Dam, with hundreds of villagers set to benefit by getting smallholder plots for irrigation.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister (Cropping) Davis Marapira said the Bangala Irrigation Scheme got equipment from Brazil’s $98 million loan facility to Zimbabwe under the More Food for Africa programme.
“The Bangala Irrigation Scheme will benefit mainly communal and A1 farmers, who will get irrigation equipment such as centre pivots and tractors.
“We want our rural communities to be food self-sufficient,” he said.
Deputy Minister Marapira said Zimbabwe was set to receive more agricultural equipment from Brazil under the second phase of the More Food for Africa programme.
“We expect to start receiving agricultural equipment from Brazil in the coming few months.
“The first phase was very successful as the majority of our farmers have repaid their loans,” he said.
The deputy minister also hailed Government’s Command Agriculture programme for assisting local farmers boost production.
Zimbabwe is expected to produce at least three million tonnes of cereals from the 2016/ 2017 agricultural season.
Deputy Minister Marapira said the Bangala Irrigation Scheme was a long term panacea to recurrent food shortages in Zaka.
Previously, Bangala Dam irrigated sugar cane plantations in the Lowveld.
Government is also planning an irrigation scheme in the arid Nhema communal lands in the same district using water from the under-utilised Siya Dam.
Zaka is slowly developing into an irrigation hub in Masvingo, with the districts also being home to Fuve-Panganai Irrigation Scheme, where communal plot-holders have ventured into commercial hybrid seed production under Zimbabwe Super Seeds Company.
Online Reporter