…Government to provide five more in October
Beverly Bizeki
Government has provided only one water drilling rig for the whole of Masvingo province and is set to provide five more in October for the implementation of the rural development programme.
Addressing scores of villagers gathered for the commissioning of the Fuve-Panganai B Irrigation Scheme in Zaka on September 17, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water Fisheries and Rural Development Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka revealed the development.
“In Masvingo we have given you one water drilling rig and I will give you five more next month for the drilling of boreholes in Masvingo.
“We have 14 wards in Chief Nhema’s area and we will drill two boreholes per ward starting with drought stricken areas first before December,” said Dr Masuka.
He said government is however set to provide five more drilling rigs next month for the implementation of the water provision project.
“The thrust of the project is to enhance gardening projects for farmers in a bid to bring industrialization to rural areas.
“We know that Agricultural development will spur industrialization. We also know that rural industrialization will spur rural development,” added Dr Masuka.
The programme is part of the Rural Development 8.0 comprising of various presidential schemes such as Presidential Climate-Proofed Input Scheme, The Presidential Cotton Scheme, The Presidential Blitz Tick Grease, Presidential Rural Development programme which focuses on providing water for various projects, Presidential Community Fisheries, Presidential poultry scheme, Goat scheme as well as local innovations and interventions.
Masuka further promised to deliver one tractor for the irrigation farmers after the scheme appealed for help as the four sections A, B, C and D are currently relying on one tractor.
