News / National
Zimbabwe launches irrigation master plan
24 Apr 2016 at 16:53hrs | Views
GOVERNMENT has launched the Climate Resilient National Water Resources and Irrigation Master Plan to increase irrigable land and improve national food security. Zimbabwe had already secured a $98 million loan to buy irrigation equipment, tractors and implements through Brazil's More Food for Africa programme.
Government feels that on top of the Brazilian irrigation equipment, there should be another facility for small-scale farmers.
Earlier this year, the central bank and Finance Ministry disbursed US$7 million to irrigate 11 000 hectares.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Mangudya last week told The Sunday Mail: "In line with the Climate Resilient National Water Resources and Irrigation Master Plan that the Government is implementing, there is scope for Government to dedicate more efforts towards establishment and resuscitation of irrigation infrastructure across the country in order to increase irrigable land.
"The development of irrigation infrastructure allows farmers to supplement rain fed agriculture and permits continuous crop production and facilitates increased productivity.
"In addition, irrigation enables the country to expand agriculture activities as dry areas can be turned into highly productive areas."
Zimbabwe has capacity to irrigate more than 330 000ha but only 78 204ha were irrigated last summer season.
Government has received US$10 million from the World Bank and is resuscitating more than 6 000 dams.
"Resuscitation of the idle irrigation infrastructure and expeditiously bring into utilisation is critical to increase production.
"In the case of irrigation infrastructure, priority should also be given to the adoption of technologies such as drip and canal irrigation which use less power as compared to the overhead sprinklers.
"In the same vein, the use of solar powered irrigation pumps should also be encouraged to complement the hydro- and thermal power generated by the Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company.
"As part of contribution to community schemes, extractive firms should undertake rehabilitation of dams and development of irrigation infrastructure within their communities in return for the socially and economically empowerment credits.
"This will go a long way in ameliorating against the recurring droughts as a result of climate change and in reducing the negative consequences of floods," Dr Mangudya said.
Government feels that on top of the Brazilian irrigation equipment, there should be another facility for small-scale farmers.
Earlier this year, the central bank and Finance Ministry disbursed US$7 million to irrigate 11 000 hectares.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Mangudya last week told The Sunday Mail: "In line with the Climate Resilient National Water Resources and Irrigation Master Plan that the Government is implementing, there is scope for Government to dedicate more efforts towards establishment and resuscitation of irrigation infrastructure across the country in order to increase irrigable land.
"The development of irrigation infrastructure allows farmers to supplement rain fed agriculture and permits continuous crop production and facilitates increased productivity.
"In addition, irrigation enables the country to expand agriculture activities as dry areas can be turned into highly productive areas."
Zimbabwe has capacity to irrigate more than 330 000ha but only 78 204ha were irrigated last summer season.
Government has received US$10 million from the World Bank and is resuscitating more than 6 000 dams.
"Resuscitation of the idle irrigation infrastructure and expeditiously bring into utilisation is critical to increase production.
"In the case of irrigation infrastructure, priority should also be given to the adoption of technologies such as drip and canal irrigation which use less power as compared to the overhead sprinklers.
"In the same vein, the use of solar powered irrigation pumps should also be encouraged to complement the hydro- and thermal power generated by the Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company.
"As part of contribution to community schemes, extractive firms should undertake rehabilitation of dams and development of irrigation infrastructure within their communities in return for the socially and economically empowerment credits.
"This will go a long way in ameliorating against the recurring droughts as a result of climate change and in reducing the negative consequences of floods," Dr Mangudya said.
Source - sundaymail
