Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
The Government has resuscitated Zimbili Irrigation Scheme in Umzingwane District, through the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda).
The scheme has been idle for the past nine years and the Government has targeted it as part of accelerated efforts to revitalise irrigation schemes in pursuit of sustainable food security.
The Government, working with various partners, is rehabilitating irrigation schemes that have been lying idle countrywide and establishing new ones to improve food and nutrition security and ensure the attainment of Vision 2030.
The country 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.
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.
Managers have been deployed to irrigation schemes across the country to maximise production thereby ensuring food security and nutrition.
The 50 hectares of arable land in Ward 19 was established in 2013. In 2014 farmers received equipment which included a hose reel, tractor, disk harrow and planter. The farmers however, have not produced any crops under irrigation over the past nine years due to a fault in the irrigation’s water pumping system.
They have been producing rain-fed maize.
A technical team from Arda was deployed to the irrigation scheme and they managed to restore water supplies to the irrigation scheme. The farmers are set to plant their first crop this summer cropping season.
Zimbili Irrigation Scheme chairperson, Ms Patience Sibanda said they have been practising rain-fed agriculture which has been limiting production.
She said they started with 40 members but many pulled out after the pumps failed.
“The irrigation scheme has never been operational as we haven’t managed to irrigate. We have been producing once a year using rainwater. We had about 40 members but people pulled out as they preferred to produce in their fields. We couldn’t sell much from what we have been producing,” she said.
“We are excited because we now have water supplies to irrigate our crops. We have been producing maize only but we will now be able to introduce a variety of crops and produce throughout the year. We hope to put crops under irrigation for this coming summer cropping season.”
Mr Enock Dube, a member of the Zimbili Irrigation Scheme, said producing under rain-fed agriculture has been difficult due to low rains. He said members will now record significant yields to sell to the Grain Marketing Board.
“Our livelihoods are set to improve once we start producing. We will sell our produce and realise income that will help us fend for our families. We will focus on producing cash crops. It has been painful seeing our irrigation scheme lying idle all these years and seeing the dam which supplies the irrigation scheme underutilised,” he said.
Mr Dube said they were grateful to Government for the assistance provided through Arda. He said they have equipment which can help them to produce at full capacity but it has been lying idle. Mr Dube said efforts have been made in the past to get the irrigation scheme operational but they have been fruitless.
Zimbili Irrigation Scheme secretary, Ms Barbara Moyo said Arda has also come in with knowledge on best farming practices. She said this will come in handy when production starts.
Mr Sindiso Mlalazi who is the acting Arda Umzingwane Irrigation Scheme manager said the agricultural authority was in the process of facilitating a loan for the farmers under Agricultural Finance Company (AFC), formerly Agribank. He said the farmers at the irrigation scheme have received inputs for summer cropping. Mr Mlalazi said a manager will be deployed to the irrigation scheme.
“Farmers at Umzingwane Irrigation Scheme have never been able to irrigate as the pumping system wasn’t working.
“As a result of farming, they have been practising rain-fed agriculture. We have come in as Arda to get the scheme up and running. The pumping system is now operational and we are addressing some leakages in the pipe system,” he said.
Mr Mlalazi added: “The scheme is getting its water from a perennial dam which has been lying idle all these years. Some of the equipment which the farmers had received has been lying idle. A manager will be deployed to the irrigation scheme.”–@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter