Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
MATABELELAND South Province falls under natural region 4 and 5 where dry land cropping is a major challenge because of poor rains.
This has made it difficult for farmers to engage in successful crop production. The province is however endowed with abundant under-utilised water resources and good soils with vast potential for cropping under irrigation.
As a result, Government has engaged in a deliberate drive to develop irrigation agriculture in Matabeleland South.
Under the Second Republic, Government is prioritising the revival of the agricultural sector through the development of irrigation schemes to address the challenges of food insecurity and poverty particularly in rural communities.
The Government working with various partners has engaged in projects to rehabilitate and expand existing irrigation schemes as well as establish new ones. President Mnangagwa under the mantra “Zimbabwe is open for business” has given investors the green light to partner with local farmers to ensure enhanced production at irrigation schemes.
A number of irrigation schemes that had been lying idle in the province have been revived while some that were underutilised have been capacitated and expanded. Investors through partnership with local farmers have assisted with resources and equipment to enhance production.
Many farmers now view farming as a business as they now engage in crop production throughout the year as opposed to waiting for the rains.
Matabeleland South acting provincial irrigation engineer, Mr Shepard Mpotekwa said there were a number of ongoing irrigation development projects that had been initiated by Government to ensure food security.
He said since the start of the year Government had availed about $666 million towards development of five irrigation schemes.
“In Matabeleland South we have a number of irrigation schemes that are being developed. Some of the projects are being funded by Government, others are as a result of private public partnerships while others are being rehabilitated under the Small Holder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP).
“So far Government has released $160 million towards establishing a 100-hectare irrigation scheme in Mtshabezi area in Gwanda. This project is at 50 percent completion and $186 million has been allocated towards establishment of a 150-hectare irrigation in Smith Block, Mangwe,” he said.
Mr Mpotekwa said Government had also availed $299 million towards rehabilitation of Mambali Irrigation scheme in Matobo and $17 million towards rehabilitating of Makoshe Irrigation scheme. He said all these projects are set to be completed before the end of the year.
Mr Mpotekwa said Government was also working on the establishment of a 2 500-hectare irrigation in Zhovhe area in Beitbridge.
He said under this project Government had engaged various partners and works were still at preliminary stage.
Mr Mpotekwa said Government has availed $20 million towards preliminary works and more funds were expected to be released soon.
“One of the major schemes that are underway is Zhovhe Irrigation where we are targeting to develop 2 500 hectares. The irrigation is at its preliminary stage as we are in the process of coming up with designs for the irrigation’s water system. An environmental impact assessment is also being conducted. Government has engaged various partners who will assist with funding. The Zhovhe Irrigation scheme project failed to be implemented in 1999 due to lack of funds,” he said.
Mr Mpotekwa said under the SIRP programme, Silalabuhwa irrigation scheme covering 442 hectares was being rehabilitated at a cost of US$400 000. He said Valley Irrigation scheme in Matobo which is 250 hectares, Shashe Irrigation scheme in Beitbridge which is 200 hectares, Moza Irrigation scheme in Bulilima which is 95 hectares were some of the irrigations that were being developed under private public partnerships.
Mr Mpotekwa said the rehabilitation works involved upgrading the water system and other infrastructure.
“Under the rehabilitation programme we are improving water supply systems and also upgrading and repairing other infrastructure. Some of the irrigation schemes have been using diesel pumps and some irrigation canals are dilapidated hence this rehabilitation and upgrading of systems. We are changing the infill system to a pipe system or drip system, installing pivots and repairing canals. We are also installing solar systems at most irrigation schemes,” he said.
Mr Mpotekwa said the state of irrigation schemes was gradually improving.
“Two years back the irrigation schemes were operating at around 30 percent but now they have improved to about 60 percent. There is need for more investors to come on board so that all irrigation schemes operate at full capacity,” he said.
President Mnangagwa last year launched the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy whose target is to grow the agriculture economy to US$8,2 billion by 2025.
The strategy seeks to ensure that the country grows enough food for its consumpton and even surplus for export.
Speaking at the launch President Mnangagwa said development and rehabilitation of irrigation was critical towards the success of the strategy.
Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Abedinico Ncube said Government under the new dispensation was prioritising enhancing food security and improving households incomes.
He said no water source was supposed to lie idle if the surrounding land could be irrigated.
Cde Ncube said agriculture production was key to the attainment of Vision 2030.
“The agriculture sector is one of the major drivers of our economy and as such Government is working on several initiatives meant to boost agricultural production such as rehabilitation of irrigation schemes.
“This is to enable farmers to grow crops throughout the year as farming is now a business that should sustain families,” he said.
Cde Ncube said a number of A2 farms were being under-utilised and all efforts were being directed at assisting the farmers to increase production.
Matabeleland South acting Provincial Agricultural Officer, Mr Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu said under the National Development Strategy (NDS1) there was the irrigation acceleration programme in which Government targets to increase the area under irrigation.
He said the concept was also incorporating the climate smart programme where solar was being used to ensure that irrigation schemes operate at full capacity.
“Government has allowed investors to develop irrigation schemes in the province and as such we are seeing a number of private public partnership initiatives. The thrust is to increase and boost food production throughout the country,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said under the climate smart programme, irrigation schemes are supposed to use systems that conserve water.
“Instead of the flood system, we now want to use centre pivots, drip irrrigation or sprinklers. These methods were mainly used by large scale commercial farmers,” he said.
Matabeleland South Province is one of the areas that have benefited under the Small Holder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP) programme which was launched in November 2017 with the aim to assist the revitalisation of irrigation schemes across the country.
The SIRP is a Government led programme funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Under the programme, US$51,7 million has been set aside for the rehabilitation of 6 100 hectares of irrigation land in four provinces. The programme is set to run for seven years.
Other provinces that have benefitted from the programme are Midlands, Masvingo and Manicaland.-@DubeMatutu
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