TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The government is rolling out a new smallholder irrigation scheme as part of efforts to improve food security in the country.
Zimbabwe has 450 small-holder irrigation schemes covering an estimated 26 000 hectares, the majority of which are not operating as commercial enterprises.
The development was revealed by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, John Basera, who said the model was designed to address challenges bedeviling small-holder irrigation schemes across the country.
“The government is looking forward to having this model adopted in all 450 schemes in Zimbabwe. This model seeks to make the schemes viable, profitable, and sustainable businesses and ultimately become commercial entities.
“The irrigation schemes are characterised by low production and productivity, limited profitability, viability challenges, vicious and unsustainable rehabilitation cycles have also been experienced,” he said.
The Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP) national project coordinator, Odreck Mukorera said smallholder irrigation schemes are known for not performing well.
“You find that the smallholder irrigation schemes have a history of not performing so well. This model is trying to find ways of addressing this so the irrigation schemes in communal areas can be sustainably managed, they can be profitable and farmers can see value out of that investment.
“All key stakeholders in the agricultural space can be informed as they contribute to the shaping of this business manager model that is being developed to try and to address problems that were there in the smallholder irrigation schemes,” Mukorera said.
The SIRP aims to revitalise 6,100 hectares in 152 existing smallholder irrigation schemes in the semi-arid zones of four provinces of Zimbabwe including Manicaland, Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Midlands. Over 27 700 poor rural households are expected to benefit.
Last year, the total hectarage was 66 000. This year’s winter wheat programme is designed to ensure that Zimbabwe attains self-sufficiency to insulate itself from the impact of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine. The ongoing conflict has significantly pushed global wheat and oil prices up.
