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Senior Agriculture Reporter
TEN irrigation schemes drawn from four districts in Manicaland have been selected for funding under the Food and Agriculture Organisation Small Holder Irrigation Support Programme(PAO-SIP).About 113 schemes had applied for funding, but the list was streamlined to 25, out of which the 10 were selected.
The funding only aims to assist with the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes in communal and old resettlement.
The project, funded to the tune of six million Euros by the European Union is being rolled out in Manicaland and Matabeleland.
The selection was done from July 14 to August 5.
It was spearheaded by officials from the department of irrigation, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), Agritex and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The 10 schemes were drawn from Nyanga, Makoni, Chimanimani and Chipinge. Among them are schemes in the Sabi Valley.
Manicaland projects are being funded to the tune of 3 million Euros – which has two components –namely irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation and capacity building, market linkages and agro processing/value addition and beneficiation.
The capacity building initiative involves training of key stakeholders, farmers and irrigation management committees so that they are able to manage their schemes viably.
“We had applications from 113 schemes and the number was screened to 25. The taskforce did some visit rapid appraisals on the 25 schemes, interviewing district committees and farmers. Farmers chronicled their problems and how they intend to manage their schemes in future forming the basis of our ranking and the top 10 were selected for funding,” said a source privy to the development.
“The farmers gave a multiplicity of challenges ranging from broken down irrigation equipment and infrastructure, gullies and soil erosion (as most of them have no conservation measures as a result of past floods),” explained the source.
The farmers also complained about lack of critical inputs like fertilisers and seed and lack of ready markets for produce like tomatoes and beans.
“It emerged during our visits that Save River is eroding its banks and changing its course, thereby threatening the existence of schemes along its banks. The major contributing factor to this problem is stream bank cultivation. The other challenge that rattled us was the high level of silt in Sabi River. Most pumps are sucking silt thereby reducing their life span. The level of pollution in the river is too high such that farmers on the downstream are in serious problem,” the source added.
The farmers also complained of stray elephants and buffaloes from the Save Conservancy that they reported were destroying their crops.
The programme to rehabilitate and wean off the schemes is expected to end in November 2017.
The rehabilitation and training of farmers on proper management of their schemes, marketing of their produce and value addition will help eradicate challenges facing most irrigation schemes in Manicaland.
The rehabilitation and expansion of these schemes has had an immediate huge impact as it will enable the country to attain its agricultural goal of improving food and nutritional security at household level.
The funding by the EU bloc fits squarely in Zanu-PF Government’s thrust, as enshrined in its economic blue print – the Zim-Asset – to achieve food security and surplus to feed downstream industries.
Manicaland, known for its rich soils and robust farming, was also a recent beneficiary of a $2 million kitty for the rehabilitation and expansion of Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme in Nyanga, by the Government of Japan.
Nyanyadzi, Nenhohwe and Bonde irrigation schemes in Chimanimani are also on the mend following the acquisition of irrigation pumps worth about $800 000 by Government. Zimbabwe has capacity to irrigate 2 244 800 hectares.
Despite the existing enormous irrigation development potential in the country, only about 206 000ha is equipped, of which 150 000ha is currently under irrigation.
About 154 500ha fall under the commercial subsector whilst 51 500ha fall under the communal subsector.
The communal irrigation sector with a total equipped area of approximately 10 000ha is the most affected and vulnerable having less than 65 percent of the schemes fully functional.
Zimbabwe is working hand-in-glove with irrigation experts from Israel, Brazil, India, China, Austria, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Belarus, Egypt, Iran and Italy.
Online Reporter