Farmers Review Africa Sept/Oct 2018 FRA - September - October 2018 digital 5 | Page 12

NEWS
ZIMBABWE
GOVERNMENT
LAUNCHES
US $200,000
PROJECT FOR
REHABILITATION
OF 2 MAJOR
IRRIGATION
SCHEMES
T
he Zimbabwe government,
together with the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO),
recently unveiled plans of a US $200
000 project to rehabilitate two major
irrigation schemes. This is with a view
to enhance food security in the usually
dry district of Zaka in Zimbabwe.
The two irrigation schemes; Nyatare
and Mabvute irrigation scheme have
a combined 120 hectares. The former
draws its water from Nyatare Dam,
while Mabvute draws its water from
the nearby Mabvute dam.
Upon completion of the rehabilitation
exercise, the villagers in Zaka East are
projected to have food security as well
as a boost in disposable income. Zaka
District Agritex officer Mr Kennedy
Pedzisai said the rehabilitation of
the two schemes was in line with
Government’s Command Agriculture
program. He further added that FAO
provided equipment for the project,
with Government providing labor.
According to Mr. Pedzisai, the
two irrigation schemes will benefit
smallholder farmers across the district.
Moreover, equipment such as center
10 |September - October 2018
pivots, water pumps and fence will
soon be delivered at their different
locations. This, he says, will pave the
way for the start of the rehabilitation exercise.
Mr. Pedzisai also explained that
the main objective of the schemes’
rehabilitation is to help the
communities living around them
as well as the plot holders achieve
food self-sufficiency. This, he says,
will ultimately improve their living
standards. For instance plot holders at
Nyatare have since started production
of maize and sugar beans.
Meanwhile, Mr. Prdzisai hinted that the
government would soon start setting
up two new irrigation schemes in
Nhema communal lands. The scheme
are to use water from a nearby Siya
Dam that bisects Zaka and Bikita districts.
Presently, the water from Siya Dam
is being used for irrigation at Fuve-
Panganai Irrigation Scheme. Here
the plot holders have transformed
their lives through hybrid maize seed
production for both the local and
export market.