Nyamavanga irrigation scheme flourishes after RIDA’s dam rehab

Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau 

THE Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), which rehabilitated Nyamavanga Dam in Zvimba district, has brought smiles to communal farmers in the area. 

RIDA has intensified development in the province under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). 

Speaking to The Herald yesterday, villagers in Ward 2 applauded the Second Republic for people-centred projects that have seen the area produce a first-time wheat crop since the construction of the dam in 2000.

The scheme has put 20 hectares under wheat and farmers where yesterday busy chasing quelea birds from the crop. 

Mrs Enireta Chabikwa said the rehabilitation of the dam had seen increased activities around the water reservoir. 

Communal farmers are also into horticulture, producing vegetables and green mealies. 

Ward 2 Councillor, Mr Andrew Chirenda said the coming of RIDA was going to see families financially and food secure. 

“Most farmers here are beneficiaries of this dam. Its rehabilitation has brought life to most of them as they are expected to receive money after the sell of the wheat crop. They have also started doing horticulture projects,” he said.

The irrigation scheme chairman, Mr Never Manyenga, said the dam rehabilitation by RIDA came at an opportune time when the community was now targeting at contributing to the country’s food demands and targets as called for by President Mnangagwa. 

RIDA engineers managed to block the seepage that made it impossible for the dam to hold enough water for irrigation and other income generating projects. 

In an interview, RIDA provincial director Mr Erikana Chikande said they had rehabilitated various dams in the province to revive communal irrigation schemes.

“We want to thank the Second Republic for giving us resources to implement various projects in the Mashonaland West province under PSIP and ERRP,” he said. 

“Nyamavanga Dam was also repaired and we are happy to report that as we speak, 20 hectares is under wheat and the communities are having plans to do fish farming and establishing horticulture gardens to improve households’ nutrition as well as food security.”