Beverly Bizeki
As the country seeks to mitigate effects of climate change, Masvingo province rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure in a bid to improve food security as the region is prone to drought due to low rainfall.
In a speech read on his behalf during the tour of Mushandike Irrigation, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira revealed the developments during a tour of the Mushandike irrigation scheme on June 14, 2023.
He said five out of 13 blocks had benefitted from the government’s Smallholder Irrigation Revitalization Programme (SIRP)
“The government has put in place programs to help local communities cope with the effects of climate change thus ensuring food security for the province. A total of five out of 13 irrigating blocks of Mushandike benefitted from the SIRP.
As the province is drought prone due to climate change, most farmers who have been solely relying on rain fed agriculture now rely on the irrigation schemes as the area has been on the record for receiving low rainfall.
“The Mushandike irrigation scheme revitalization has empowered 242 households being irrigation farmers and 726 dry land farmers’ thereby improving food and nutrition security,” said Chadzamira.
In his speech also read in his absence, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programs Dr Joram Gumbo said shortage of water at the scheme is a result of climate change and obsolete infrastructure.
“The shortage of water at the scheme has been largely attributed to climate change and the obsolete infrastructure which is no longer fit for purpose. I am happy that efforts are being made to address these challenges through canal and storage dam rehabilitation replacement and repair of hydraulic structures and supply of irrigation equipment,” said Gumbo.
Gumbo also emphasized the need for future irrigation to include a value chain approach in order to increase productivity.
“I have also been informed that the farmers here are growing a variety of crops including green mealies, wheat, sugar beans tomatoes, chillies, cabbages and mixed vegetables. The expectation is that the scheme should graduate from being a source of nutrition to local household to an income generating project,” added Gumbo.
Gumbo also said irrigation initiatives are meant to mitigate the challenges faced by small holder farmers due to climate change as well as servicing areas where water is not found in abundance.
