adminSWITZERLAND Development Co-operation (SDC) has availed a $6,3 million grant, for the revitalisation of irrigation schemes in Masvingo in an effort to address the food situation in the drought prone province, a senior official has said.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for cropping Davis Marapira said Masvingo province will benefit from the grant which is managed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) together with ministry’s department of irrigation development.
“A five-year grant of $6,3 million has been availed for Masvingo province by the Switzerland government through FAO, specifically for the revitalisation of irrigation schemes in the province. By beginning of October all identified schemes will be working and using new technology of centre pivot for irrigation,” said Deputy Minister Marapira. He said Masvingo was identified to benefit from the grant because of poor rain patterns which cannot sustain rainfed cropping.
“With the ensuing climate change, Masvingo province is always hard hit by successive years of drought and irrigation schemes remain a panacea to the province. However, a number of these schemes were not productive given the outdated technology used. The new technology aims to increase farmers’ productivity levels,” he said.
The irrigation schemes that will benefit include Mushandike, which used to be the bread basket of Masvingo district, Stanmore Irrigation scheme in Ward 32 in Masvingo, Mupfuti Irrigation Scheme in Zaka, Fuwe Panganai, Rufaro, Mutendi, among others.
Bongani Ndlovu