News / National
Govt to resuscitate irrigation schemes countrywide
17 Nov 2013 at 01:26hrs | Views
Government has embarked on a programme to resuscitate irrigation schemes countrywide as part of efforts to boost food security.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation responsible for crops and irrigation, Cde Davis Marapira, last week disclosed that rehabilitation of some schemes in the drier parts of the country was progressing well.
"Rehabilitation of irrigation schemes has already started in some parts of Matabeleland, Buhera and Masvingo and Government's main thrust is to harness water and mechanise our irrigation schemes," he said.
"The Buhera project, which is around US$2 million in cost, is progressing at Bonde Irrigation Scheme where we are targeting plus or minus 400 hectares and Nyanyadzi Irrigation Scheme where we are also targeting the same hectarage. Both schemes will be drawing water from Save River.
"In Masvingo there is also progress at Dromore and Stanmore irrigation schemes where we are targeting around 82ha and 400ha respectively.
"In Matabeleland we have our biggest project so far at Bulawayo Kraal where we are targeting to develop and cover between 5 000ha to 10 000ha since we will be drawing water from Zambezi River.
However, at the moment we are only rehabilitating 100ha due to limited resources." The country's drive towards irrigation-based agriculture recently attracted the praise of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation which noted that: "The Government of Zimbabwe has recognised the role of irrigation development as a key drought-mitigation measure. Tremendous strides have been made by the Government, the private sector and the donor community in the area of irrigation development since independence in 1980.
"The development of smallholder schemes has been followed by a number of socio-economic studies during the last two decades in order to help policymakers in formulating sound policies for future development."
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation responsible for crops and irrigation, Cde Davis Marapira, last week disclosed that rehabilitation of some schemes in the drier parts of the country was progressing well.
"Rehabilitation of irrigation schemes has already started in some parts of Matabeleland, Buhera and Masvingo and Government's main thrust is to harness water and mechanise our irrigation schemes," he said.
"The Buhera project, which is around US$2 million in cost, is progressing at Bonde Irrigation Scheme where we are targeting plus or minus 400 hectares and Nyanyadzi Irrigation Scheme where we are also targeting the same hectarage. Both schemes will be drawing water from Save River.
"In Matabeleland we have our biggest project so far at Bulawayo Kraal where we are targeting to develop and cover between 5 000ha to 10 000ha since we will be drawing water from Zambezi River.
However, at the moment we are only rehabilitating 100ha due to limited resources." The country's drive towards irrigation-based agriculture recently attracted the praise of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation which noted that: "The Government of Zimbabwe has recognised the role of irrigation development as a key drought-mitigation measure. Tremendous strides have been made by the Government, the private sector and the donor community in the area of irrigation development since independence in 1980.
"The development of smallholder schemes has been followed by a number of socio-economic studies during the last two decades in order to help policymakers in formulating sound policies for future development."
Source - Sunday Mail
