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Elton Manguwo
MAROVANYATI Dam in Buhera district of Manicaland is 97 percent towards completion, as the Government fast tracks its construction to enable locals to climate-proof agriculture and even practise intensive farming in the drought prone region to boost food security.
In an interview yesterday, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the project was now at 97 percent with placing of kerbstones on the dam crest in progress.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga
Upon completion, Marovanyati Dam will be able to hold 50 million cubic litres of water, which will make it possible for villagers from surrounding areas to start irrigation projects.
“The broader scope of the project will facilitate up-scaling of agriculture projects through irrigation while also supplying water to neighbouring Murambinda growth point,” said Mrs Munyonga.
Zinwa is spearheading the construction of the Marovanyati Dam in line with the country’s thrust to modernise the agriculture sector to ensure food security.
“Construction work at the dam has been slowed down due to the current rains and the annual shutdown of the construction sector,” said Mrs Munyonga.
The construction of the dam is a welcome investment in Manicaland province’s Buhera district as large-scale commercial farmers in the area can also benefit from its construction, as it provides a basis for intensive farming and maximum production ushering in agribusiness as farmers increase their hectarages and maximise outputs.
Additionally, small-scale communal farmers who in most cases are affected by the destructive effects of climate change, will take advantage of this development to grow more crops and do other activities to supplement what they would have harvested during summer. It also means that they will not solely rely on rain fed production, as the dam will provide them with opportunities to produce throughout the year.
The dam, which is located in an area with good soils and a sizeable number of communal growers’ will assist the area in poverty alleviation and in turn contribute to rural industrialisation and development.
The Government initiated the Marovanyati dam project that is one of the 12 high impact dams earmarked to modernise the agricultural sector in line with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development’s mission of promoting a modern, sustainable and viable smart agriculture sector towards the goal of achieving food security and self-sustenance.
Mrs Munyonga added: “These 12 dams are expected to go a very along way in providing water for irrigation and domestic use in different part of the country.”
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) secretary general Mr Paul Zakariya recently remarked that as the Government continued to make such great strides in dam construction it is important that investments be further channelled towards water drawing equipment as small scale farmers do not have the capacity.
Online Reporter