Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
ABOUT US$40 million has been invested in rehabilitating 42 irrigation schemes across the country under the Government’s Small Holder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP).
The programme is targeting 60 irrigation schemes and works in the remaining projects are set to have been completed by June this year.
The intervention targets to revive production on 5 200 hectares and help boost national food security.
SIRP was launched in November 2017 to assist the revitalisation of irrigation schemes across the country through rehabilitation of infrastructure.
The programme is led by the Government and funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented in four provinces — Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands and Matabeleland South.
In Matabeleland South, irrigation schemes that have been rehabilitated under SIRP include Sebasa, Guyu, Tshikwalakwala, Makwe, Valley and Silalatshani.
Works are underway to revitalise Bambanani Irrigation Scheme, Mankonkoni Irrigation Scheme and Rustlers Gorge Irrigation Scheme.
In an interview during a visit to Sebasa Irrigation Scheme on Friday, SIRP programme co-ordinator, Mr Walter Makotore, said so far infrastructure on 3 900ha has been rehabilitated out of a targeted 5 200ha.
“The SIRP programme in total is funded to the tune of $51,7 million and at the moment works that have been completed have taken close to 80 percent of the funds. Under the programme we have 60 irrigation schemes that we are rehabilitating in four provinces in the country namely Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands and Matabeleland South Province,” he said.
“As SIRP, we are now at 3 900 ha out of a target of 5 200ha where we have either rehabilitated the schemes or expanded them.
“Rehabilitation of the remaining hectarage is ongoing. Out of the 60 irrigation schemes we are targeting; we have managed to complete 42. We expect to have completed the remaining latest by 30 June.”
The SIRP rehabilitation works include the development of weirs, construction of main pipelines, rehabilitation of obsolete infrastructure, erection of centre pivots, installation of solar system, installation of transformers, drilling of boreholes, construction of night storage dams and road rehabilitation among others.
Mr Makotore said the SIRP programme has also focused on capacity building of farmers and extension workers. He said going forward the extension workers and ARDA managers deployed by the Government are expected to continue working with farmers to ensure production, profitability and productivity in the irrigation schemes beyond SIRP.
Mr Makotore said a revolving fund has also been introduced in the irrigation schemes to ensure sustainability. After every harvest farmers set aside about 20 percent of the proceeds from the sales and re-invest the funds into the next cropping cycle.
“As SIRP we are also supporting farmers from areas surrounding the irrigation schemes. For example, here in Sebasa, while we have invested in the irrigation scheme we have also invested in some climate-smart agriculture interventions where we have supported farmers with improved small livestock such as goats and indigenous chickens,” he said.
“We realised that while farmers in the irrigation scheme are going to benefit from this intervention, farmers in the wider community also need to be supported in terms of their livelihoods. We have also supported farmers with traditional grains and several other interventions.”
Under the Second Republic, Government is prioritising the revival of the agricultural sector through the development of irrigation schemes to alleviate food insecurity and poverty particularly in rural communities.
Working with various partners, the country has rehabilitated irrigation schemes that have been lying idle across the country and established new ones in order to improve food and nutrition security and ensure the attainment of Vision 2030. Some that were being underutilised have been capacitated and expanded.
Zimbabwe is targeting to rehabilitate and develop 350 000 hectares of land by 2025 across the country to safeguard the country against the negative effects of climate change and ensure food security. —@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter