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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
SUGAR bean farmers at one of the biggest irrigation schemes in the country -Chibuwe/Musikavanhu Irrigation Scheme – are facing a bleak future after their main source of water, Save River, diverted its course.
This has resulted in the scheme’s water pumps failing to pump water and causing delays in the planting of sugar beans.
Chipinge/Musikavanhu Irrigation Scheme, which is home to more than 1 000 farmers, is one of the biggest sugar beans suppliers in the country with a capacity to produce thousands of tonnes every season.
Interviewed farmers said they were reverting to traditional means of de-silting Save River to enable them to redirect the water to their irrigation canals.
They said if the problem persists,yields will be reduced.
Mr Warren Sibiya of Chibuwe Irrigation Scheme Block A said they need new technology to help them de-silt Save River.
Mr Sibiya said poor agricultural practices by villagers who stay along the banks of Save River are contributing to the siltation of the river.
“The water shortages caused by challenges in generating water from Save River is now a perennial problem.
“The water is now changing its course, thereby leaving old irrigation schemes which rely on pumps in a quandary. Farmers are now using traditional means to divert water to the engine house and canals,which is proving to be a mammoth task,” he said.
Mr Sibiya said there is need to invest in modern technology to bail out the farmers from the water shortages.
Another farmer, Mr Mika Mkwakwami, said they are now racing against time to beat the planting deadlines.
“The irrigation scheme is our oasis here as the area has high temperatures. We are now behind planting schedules and if we continue delaying, we will end up forking out more money to buy chemicals because the crop will be vulnerable to diseases. We are also appealing to the corporate world to assist us with machinery,” he said.
Chipinge District Agritex officer, Mr Tapiwa Chagwesha, urged farmers to join hands and approach local companies for assistance.
“Bad farming methods along Save River banks are the major causes of siltation.
“We are urging farmers to practice good farming methods to avoid these consequences.
“These farmers should also approach the surrounding companies and engage them for machineries to divert water to the pumps,” he said.
Online Reporter