Midlands irrigation schemes get equipment

Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
TWENTY irrigation schemes in the Midlands Province with over 3,500 beneficiaries have so far received farming equipment under the country’s More Food for Africa Programme which was commissioned by President Robert Mugabe recently.

The irrigation schemes in Gweru, Gokwe South, Mberengwa, Mvuma, Shurugwi, and Zvishavane started receiving the equipment at the beginning of June.

The equipment is part of the Brazilian $98 million agricultural equipment loan facility aimed at boosting production in line with Zim Asset.

Midlands Provincial Administrator, Cecilia Chitiyo, said as per the government’s promise, the agricultural sector was poised for growth following the arrival of the state–of-the-art agricultural equipment.

“The equipment so far received in the province is under the More Food for Africa Programme which was commissioned by President Mugabe recently,” she said.

According to the schedule of beneficiaries, four irrigation schemes in Gweru: Insukamini, Mawodza, Mkoba and Mtorahuku and one in Gokwe South Chemahororo benefitted.“Kwekwe has five, Mberengwa six, Mvuma three, Shurugwi four and Zvishavane two irrigation schemes,” reads the schedule.

The beneficiaries received 40 tractors, 25 disc ploughs, 33 planters, 33 rom discs, seven fert spreaders, and 512 knapsack sprayers each. They also received 12 water pumps, four pivots and 11 Horse Reels running into millions of dollars.Commissioning the farming equipment at the GMB Cleveland Depot in Harare in May, President Mugabe said agriculture is the basic industry on which other sectors rely for raw materials and other products.

He said the programme emphasises food production at household level and food security for the nation. Cde Mugabe revealed that the equipment facility was being rolled out in three phases; the first phase valued at $38.6 million, the second and third phases valued at $30 million each.

The President said the equipment was meant to boost the agrarian reforms through capacity building and technology transfer to smallholder farmers.Cde Mugabe said the equipment should reach the intended beneficiaries.