Siyalima voted best irrigation scheme

Mash Central Bureau
SIYALIMA Irrigation Scheme in Guruve, which was launched by President Mnangagwa in February, was named the best irrigation scheme in Mashonaland Central. It beat 24 other irrigation schemes to land the top prize.

In a speech read on her behalf by provincial Agritex Crops and Livestock Production officer Mr Stancilae Tapererwa at the award presentation ceremony last week, Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Monica Mavhunga said Government was committed in its efforts to resuscitate irrigation schemes in the province through Command Agriculture.

“Climate change is causing unpredictable weather patterns that have severely affected our farming in Zimbabwe. It is now clear that for any cropping enterprise to be successful there is need for irrigation facilities at the farm to ensure correct and reliable supply of water to allow maximum utilisation of land throughout the year. The Government is empowering farmers with irrigation equipment through different programmes including installation of Irrigation Equipment for Import Substitution: Command Agriculture and the National Accelerated Irrigation and Development Programme better known as 200ha per district per year,” she said.

She also urged irrigation schemes to jealously guard the equipment.

“It is now upon the beneficiaries of such programmes to look after the equipment. Vandalism especially of transformers has grossly affected the total provincial functional irrigation area.

“We were awarding prizes for the best three provincial irrigation schemes and the first prize went to Siyalima Irrigation which received $1 000, 2x25kg seed maize and 50kg bean seed, seconded by Muunganirwa of Bindura which won $750, 25kg seed maize, and 25kg beans with the third prize going to Chesa/Mutondive in Mt Darwin which also got $500 and 25kg seed maize,” said Mrs Mavhiunga.

Guruve South legislator Cde Patrick Dutiro said this was the first time that district’s Grain Marketing Board had taken delivery of wheat since it started operating in the 1970s.