adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
TSHIKWALAKWALA Irrigation Scheme in Beitbridge is grinding to a halt after farmers at the project failed to repair the four irrigation pumps and fence destroyed by floods in 2012. The appalling situation has also worsened the drought situation in the district where 1 900 households are reported to be in need of urgent food aid. The irrigation scheme which is owned by Government and was initiated in 1967 has become a pale shadow of its former self. In an interview, the project chairperson, Mr John Kibi Muleya, said the once viable scheme was grinding to a halt. He said they used to operate with four diesel powered pumps and five boreholes.
“The situation here is a cause for concern considering that we are in agriculture natural Region Five where crop husbandry depends mostly on irrigation farming. As villagers we have tried to put resources together but that is not enough to take us off the ground. As you can see the 65 hectares have turned into a thick bush,” said Mr Muleya.
He said the situation was really frustrating, adding that most of the 163 plot-holders had started pulling out of the project.
Mr Muleya said despite receiving a tractor, planter and plough from Government, their dream to revive irrigation farming remained a perennial mirage.
He said the irrigation scheme was a source of livelihood for the 928 households in Ward 1 with a population of 4 300 people.
Mr Muleya said they were appealing to Government and other development players to come to their rescue.
He said besides the pumps they also needed to repair canals which were damaged by wild animals including elephants and buffalo from neighbouring Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Senator for Beitbridge, Cde Tambuzani Mohadi, who also visited the project recently, said the situation was dire.
“We are appealing to all development players to partner Government in reviving irrigation farming across the district.
“Drought has hit people hard and we need to work on finding lasting solutions to problem bedevilling major irrigation schemes in the district. As a people-oriented Government we cannot stand aside and watch our people suffer,” said Sen Mohadi.
derick.khumalo