Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza
NATIONAL dam levels stand at more than 85 percent full, signalling a strong water security position for the country as the winter cropping season gets into full swing, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has said.
At this time last year, national dam levels stood at 71 percent capacity.
In a statement, the water utility said 620 farmers had signed abstraction agreements to draw water from national dams for wheat, barley and potatoes irrigation.
“Other farmers have also signed water abstraction agreements to grow sugar cane, tobacco, citrus fruits, horticultural crops and livestock and pastures watering,” ZINWA spokesperson Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said.
She said for efficient and sustainable implementation of a successful winter cropping season, ZINWA urges farmers who may have planted their crops without water abstraction agreements to approach the agency and regularise their water use.
“Water abstraction agreements allow ZINWA to optimally allocate the available water resources amongst the competing needs of diverse water users and any water abstractions without agreements distort water demand patterns as water is released from the dams on the basis of existing water abstraction agreements,” said Mrs Munyonga.
“Farmers with agreements are also advised to observe and adhere to their water allocations.”
ZINWA has said it will not be releasing water to individuals without valid water abstraction agreements.
“ZINWA is also intensifying its monitoring and surveillance mechanisms along river channels to identify and eradicate any illegal abstractions, which may interfere with water abstractions and allocations for farmers with valid water abstraction agreements.”
With the 2025 winter wheat planting window officially closed, news that the country’s dams hold sufficient water volumes to meet the requirements of the planted wheat hectarage and other crops comes as a relief to farmers.
Wheat planting for the 2025 season surpassed the initial target of 120 000 hectares set aside by Government with farmers planting 122 142 hectares.
Last week, Government announced that the nation is projected to record a grain surplus of 812 000 tonnes.
The projection is based on an anticipated cereal reserve of three million tonnes comprising an expected harvest of 2,9 million tonnes and an existing reserve of 83 526 tonnes. This is against an annual grain requirement of 2,2 million tonnes.
