Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
FARMERS at the Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme in Insiza District have reaped the benefits of a contract farming partnership with local seed house Zadzamatura, resulting in the successful production of sugar beans on 100 hectares.
More than 200 farmers involved in the scheme have gained from this collaboration.
The irrigation scheme is one of several recently rehabilitated by the Government to enhance the agricultural sector, although financial challenges continue to constrain production.
The farmers have already secured a market for their sugar bean crop.
In an interview with Zimpapers, the scheme’s chairperson, Mr Joel Ndlovu, said the partnership has created a huge empowerment boost for them.
“We are so grateful that the Government rehabilitated our scheme and further managed to get a contract with this Zadzamatura. This partnership is market-driven, meaning that we won’t have to look for buyers for our crop.
“We had water and land, but didn’t have money, but now with this partnership, we are productive. We had never grown such a crop and it’s going to transform our lives,” he said.
Zadzamatura managing director, Dr Daniel Myers said as an organisation, they came in to assist farmers with good quality seeds as well as other inputs such as fertilisers to ensure that farmers can maintain a good crop up to harvesting time.
“As an organisation, we sought to complement the Government’s efforts in ensuring that this irrigation scheme is fully productive, which will in turn contribute towards ensuring food security. The Government has done a great job in revatilising irrigation schemes and as private players we have been urged to come on board and take part in this agricultural revolution.
“We saw that the farmers had water and land but didn’t have capital, but through this collaboration, we can achieve food security. This is in line with Vision 2030. We are impressed by the performance of the crop at this scheme,” he said.
Insiza District Agritex officer, Mr Augustine Mhike, said this kind of partnership will bring huge returns for farmers because the collaboration comes with a ready market. He said this will help to ensure that farmers have funds to sustain production in the future.
He said the partnership is in line with the Government’s thrust of seeing irrigation schemes being fully utilised.
Mr Mhike urged the farmers to fully utilise the opportunities presented by the partnership. He said as a department, they have come in with technical support on sugar bean production.
The 442-hectare Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme is one of the major communal irrigation schemes that were rehabilitated by Government in Matabeleland South Province under the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP).
Other schemes that have been rehabilitated in the province are Sebasa, Makwe and Guyu.
The Government has been working with various partners to scale up the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes that have been lying idle in the country and established new ones to improve food and nutrition security in line with Vision 2030 ideals.
Support has also been extended to the provision of critical inputs through various programmes to ensure maximum production.
Farmers have received training on how to run their schemes as businesses and they have been equipped with mechanisms for improved production.
Zimbabwe is targeting to rehabilitate and develop 350 000 hectares of land by 2025 across the country, to safeguard the country against the negative effects of climate change and ensure food security. — @DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu