adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Several irrigation schemes in Beitbridge District are facing viability problems, amid growing calls for a shift towards modern irrigation technology to enhance productivity.
The affected irrigation schemes are tottering on the verge of collapse owing an array of challenges raging from obsolete equipment, dilapidated water infrastructure and destruction of crops due to increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict in the district.
Beitbridge District crops and livestock production officer Mr Masauso Mawocha recently told stakeholders during a Small Irrigation Revitalising Programme (SIRP) meeting that the situation at most irrigation schemes in the area were untenable. He said besides being plagued by antiquated equipment, most of the irrigation schemes in Beitbridge were also underutilised, among other challenges.
“We are working with various development partners to revive irrigation farming, considering that crops don’t do well under the normal rainfall patterns in this region,” he said.
“Generally, irrigation of crops ensures food and nutrition security in the district. Intermittent water shortages have become a common challenge at most projects.”
Mr Mawocha said challenges affecting most schemes included capacity under utilisation, poor performance characterised by low yields, water conveyance and water-use inefficiencies, and poor management of schemes.
“Though we have other players on the ground trying to revive irrigation farming, we still need more players to come in, especially in areas where degraded and inadequate maintenance of infrastructure remains a challenge,” he said.
“In addition, we have a problem of wildlife-human life conflicts, resulting in the destruction of crops or infrastructure.” Mr Mawocha said lack of markets contributed to the gradual demise of irrigation development in Beitbridge.
He urged communal farmers to adopt advanced irrigation technology and transform into commercial entities if they were to reap maximum benefits from irrigation farming.
A number of development agencies were already on the ground in the district to assess the state of most irrigation schemes with a view to resuscitating them. Mr Mawocha said some plot-holders had reduced land under tillage, while others had stopped farming completely as a result of recurrent challenges.
He said Beitbridge had potential to achieve food self-sufficiency if all irrigation schemes in the drought-stricken district were optimally used to engender food security.
Online Reporter