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Zimbabwe govt signs nine irrigation deals
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The Zimbabwean Government has finalized nine irrigation investment agreements with private companies, marking a significant step towards ensuring food security and agricultural sustainability in the face of unpredictable weather patterns. These agreements aim to mitigate production and supply disruptions caused by climate change and position Zimbabwe as a weather-independent agricultural hub.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, presided over the signing ceremony in Harare last week. The partnerships are part of the Government's broader strategy to establish irrigation farming as a cornerstone of agricultural output, reducing reliance on inconsistent rainfall patterns.
During the ceremony, Prof. Jiri underscored the importance of these investments, highlighting their potential to transform Zimbabwe into a food-secure nation, irrespective of climatic conditions. He emphasized that the Government's role is to facilitate such initiatives to ensure farmers across the country have access to reliable irrigation systems.
“Today we start wetting the paper, but the eventual goal is to wet the fields. If we do that, we would have succeeded in climate-proofing our agriculture," said Prof. Jiri. He also shared the milestone on his X account, stating, “Transforming Zimbabwe into a weather-independent food hub remains a core priority of the Ministry. On Monday, nine irrigation investment deals were finalised, marking a significant step towards achieving this critical goal."
The agreements follow President Emmerson Mnangagwa's earlier call for innovative solutions to address the impacts of climate change during the National Irrigation Investment Conference. The President stressed the urgency of adopting climate-proof agricultural practices, encouraging stakeholders and communities to implement mechanisms that guarantee food security from the household level upward.
At the same conference, Zimbabwe secured over US$227 million for irrigation projects and an additional US$1.5 billion for dam construction and related infrastructure, including the Gwayi-Shangani pipeline and Musami Dam. These developments are part of the Government's "dam as an economy" philosophy, which expands the role of dams beyond water storage to include irrigation, hydroelectricity generation, potable water provision, and fisheries development.
The comprehensive approach aligns with Zimbabwe's Vision 2030, aiming to accelerate rural development and improve livelihoods while ensuring no one and no place is left behind. The dam projects are expected to nearly double the country's irrigated land from 217,000 hectares to 496,000 hectares, significantly enhancing resilience against climate change and securing national food production.
As implementation begins, the focus will shift to land preparation and the development of irrigation systems, with the Department of Irrigation and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) playing pivotal roles. The Government and its private sector partners are optimistic that these measures will firmly establish Zimbabwe as a leading agricultural hub in the region.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, presided over the signing ceremony in Harare last week. The partnerships are part of the Government's broader strategy to establish irrigation farming as a cornerstone of agricultural output, reducing reliance on inconsistent rainfall patterns.
During the ceremony, Prof. Jiri underscored the importance of these investments, highlighting their potential to transform Zimbabwe into a food-secure nation, irrespective of climatic conditions. He emphasized that the Government's role is to facilitate such initiatives to ensure farmers across the country have access to reliable irrigation systems.
“Today we start wetting the paper, but the eventual goal is to wet the fields. If we do that, we would have succeeded in climate-proofing our agriculture," said Prof. Jiri. He also shared the milestone on his X account, stating, “Transforming Zimbabwe into a weather-independent food hub remains a core priority of the Ministry. On Monday, nine irrigation investment deals were finalised, marking a significant step towards achieving this critical goal."
At the same conference, Zimbabwe secured over US$227 million for irrigation projects and an additional US$1.5 billion for dam construction and related infrastructure, including the Gwayi-Shangani pipeline and Musami Dam. These developments are part of the Government's "dam as an economy" philosophy, which expands the role of dams beyond water storage to include irrigation, hydroelectricity generation, potable water provision, and fisheries development.
The comprehensive approach aligns with Zimbabwe's Vision 2030, aiming to accelerate rural development and improve livelihoods while ensuring no one and no place is left behind. The dam projects are expected to nearly double the country's irrigated land from 217,000 hectares to 496,000 hectares, significantly enhancing resilience against climate change and securing national food production.
As implementation begins, the focus will shift to land preparation and the development of irrigation systems, with the Department of Irrigation and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) playing pivotal roles. The Government and its private sector partners are optimistic that these measures will firmly establish Zimbabwe as a leading agricultural hub in the region.
Source - The Chronicle
