The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo Senior Farming Reporter
THE installation of the state-of-the-art Brazilian irrigation equipment in Matabeleland North Province is progressing at a slow pace due to lack of funds to purchase some of the auxiliary components. Matabeleland North’s Department of Irrigation provincial chief engineer Charles Makhula, however, said phase one of the allocation and installation of the Brazilian equipment in the province was about 80 percent complete.
The country secured a $98-million loan to buy irrigation equipment, tractors and implements through Brazil’s More Food for Africa programme. Delivery of the machinery started in May 2015. The Government has set sights at completing installing irrigation equipment at 179 farming co-operatives in June this year in time for preliminary 2016/17 summer cropping preparations.
“Generally the installation of the Brazilian facility equipment is moving with a lot of difficulties especially with regards to funds to support the provision of some of the auxiliary components. As a province we have completed installation at four out of eight irrigation schemes that benefited under the facility.
“The pace is quite slow largely because of cash flow problems, payment to suppliers is being delayed. Of course there is work going-on but there are a number of challenges that are handicapping us. To make matters worse some of our vehicles are holed up at the garage because of non-payment for the maintenance services and very soon our fuel allocation will run out,” said Eng Makhula.
He said work at the remaining four irrigation schemes was at various stages of completion.
“As we speak installation of the second centre pivot irrigation system at Bulawayo Kraal (Binga) was completed yesterday (Thursday) and work on the third one has started. It normally takes two days to install this equipment thus we are expecting the fourth one to be installed next week (this week). Assembling of the pontoon is also expected to start as all the parts have since reached the site,” said Eng Makhula.
The estimated 5 000-hectare Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme is part of the more than 10 000-hectare Zambezi Green Valley (Zagreva) project and seeks to ensure a green belt in areas along the Zambezi River stretching from Kazungula to Kariba.
The other remaining works are Bona and Glenmore irrigation schemes in Bubi District where the centre pivot, which covers 60 hectares is still to be installed at Bona.
At Glenmore, he said engineers from the Department of Irrigation would be mounting a water pump while waiting for the Zesa Holdings to connect power.
“The only remaining scheme is Fanisoni (Nkayi district) where we are going to put up water pipelines and pumps to draw water from the source. We have already started sensitising the farmers to be prepared to pay upon harvesting their crop since this (Brazilian) facility is a loan,” Eng Makhula said.
Experts say smallholder irrigation has a role to play in agricultural and economic development of Zimbabwe. The high yields obtained in irrigation, coupled with other benefits such as increased incomes, food security, employment creation, drought relief savings and so on, are an indication that irrigation can be a vehicle for the long-term agricultural and macro-economic development.
