Masvingo to tap into $39m irrigation fund

From Tawanda Mangoma in CHIREDZI
MASVINGO is among three provinces set to benefit from a $39 million resource envelope that has been secured by Government to expand, modernise and rehabilitate irrigation schemes. Addressing villagers at the official opening of St Joseph Irrigation Scheme in Save Communal Lands, director of irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Conrad Zawe said that the fund was sourced from the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).

Masvingo intends to develop 1 000 hectares of irrigated plots along the Save River.

Government is, however, worried about water rationing, hence, the decision to start drilling boreholes along the river.

“We have secured $39 million from IFAD, which we will use towards rehabilitation, development and modernisation of irrigation schemes in four provinces,” he said.

“The facility will run for seven years. As a ministry, we have identified 1 000ha of land, which we will turn into a greenbelt along this side of Save River. Most irrigation activities are in Manicaland and our intentions are spreading this to all riverbanks,” said Dr Zawe.

He said they received reports that some irrigation schemes dried-up last season as they failed to access water, which Green Fuel was reportedly diverting in huge volumes.

“We received your complaints about Green Fuel making use of all the water, while your schemes dried-up. We are however coming to drill heavy-duty boreholes on the riverbed, just like what we are doing at Rupangwana and Dandare Irrigation Schemes,” he said.

“We don’t want your crops to wilt due to water shortages. Siltation is our main problem. Water will be flowing underneath and we must tap that water to good use,” added Dr Zawe.