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Elton Manguwo
TOP-PERFORMING irrigation schemes are set to reap huge monetary benefits following the setting up of a US$1 million facility by the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP) in partnership with the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) to reward good work and cultivate a culture of business among irrigation schemes.
SIRP projects coordinator Mr Odreck Mukorera yesterday said smallholder farmers and small businesses working around the rehabilitated irrigation schemes can compete with each other to win funding from the US$1 million facility to up-scale their agricultural and or business operations.
“The US$1 million facility will benefit smallholder farmers and agriculture groups in Matabeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo and Manicaland,” said Mr Mukorera.
The facility is intended to enhance inputs, boost production and provide relevant technical business training to participants.
“The aim of the fund is to support sustainable business models from farmers mainly so that they can take farming as a business and in turn be able to independently maintain and operate their revitalised irrigation schemes without the need to seek support from the Government or any other sources,” said Mukorera.
SIRP has since conducted the first round of the competition with the first set of beneficiaries set to receive grants early 2023.
Mr Mukorera highlighted that the fund was set up after a realisation that many irrigation schemes were dying due to lack of proper maintenance, as farmers were failing to realise profits from their farming operations.
The development comes at a time the Government is working to transform irrigation schemes into both production hubs and centres of business excellence to accelerate the attainment of an upper-middle- income economy and rural development.
In addition, SIRP is supporting the training of Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) scheme managers and extension workers on irrigation scheme business management to assist farmers to run their farming businesses profitably and ensure continued production.
“The objective is to decrease vulnerability of smallholder farmers to food and nutrition insecurity, climate change effects and economic shocks,” said Mr Mukorera stressing on the need for farmers to sustain their own farming operations without continuous assistance.
In response to climate change, SIRP has been rehabilitating irrigation schemes to enable farmers to produce all year around.
SIRP is a seven-year programme funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and the Government of Zimbabwe, which is meant to build resilience among smallholder farming communities around the country.
Online Reporter