Chronicle Editor
Yoliswa Dube-Moyo, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
EIGHTEEN irrigation schemes across Matabeleland South are operating above 60 percent capacity as the province moves towards improving food security and nutrition.
Government, working with various partners, is rehabilitating irrigation schemes that have been lying idle and establishing new ones to improve food security and nutrition to ensure the attainment of Vision 2030.
There is a target to rehabilitate and develop 350 000 hectares of land by 2025 to safeguard the country against the negative effects of climate change and ensure food security.
The Second Republic is prioritising the revival of the agricultural sector.
Matabeleland South acting Provincial Agricultural Director (rural development services) Mr Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu said irrigation schemes are critical for food security.
“In terms of irrigation schemes, we have two in Bulilima, Gwanda has nine, Umzingwane has three and we have four in Matobo. Most of these are above 60 percent in terms of utilisation. This is critical for food security,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said there was a need to revive the remaining irrigation schemes that are not functioning.
“Irrigation schemes are fast developing in the province following intervention from Government and various partners. At the pace that we are moving in terms of establishment of new irrigation schemes and rehabilitation of old schemes, the province will soon become a major food producer and supplier even to neighbouring provinces,” said Mr Ndlovu.
A number of irrigation schemes that have been lying idle in the province have been revived while some that were being underutilised have been capacitated and expanded.
Government is also rolling out various agricultural schemes meant to transform subsistence agriculture at household level into commercial agriculture.
Managers have also been deployed to irrigation schemes across the country to maximise production thereby ensuring food security and nutrition.
Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Vangelis Haritatos recently said the agricultural sector is expected to improve food self-sufficiency from 45 percent in 2020 to 100 percent by 2025.
“This entails increasing maize production from 907 629 tonnes in 2020 to three million tonnes in 2025 among other deliverables. As part of efforts to build resilience in most rural communities in arid and semi-arid areas, we have embarked on a number of climate smart initiatives to ensure continued national food security,” said Deputy Minister Haritatos.
He said irrigation is the half panacea to climate change hence focus is on expanding land under irrigation and improving water harvesting.
“In addition to irrigation development, the Ministry is making strides towards building resilience in most arid and semi-arid areas of the country by employing conservation methods such as the highly successful Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme which saw the country produce a record 2, 7 million tonnes of maize against the national requirement of 1,8 million tonnes in the 2020/2021 agricultural season,” said Deputy Minister Haritatos. – @Yolisswa
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