‘Government’s US$20 million smallholder irrigation fund a game changer’

Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Government has been commended for unveiling the US$20 million Smallholder Irrigation Infrastructure Development Fund (SIIDF) as part of its efforts to boost rural incomes and ensure food self-sufficiency.

The SIIDF which is set to benefit 18 smallholder irrigation schemes, will be funded by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development from the Zimbabwean allocation of US$958 million received from the International Monetary Fund’s US$650 billion Special Drawing Rights released to member countries last year.

Last Wednesday Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka signed a memorandum of understanding that would see the Finance Ministry providing the fund while the Agriculture Ministry would be the implementing agent of the programme.

In an interview, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) chief executive officer (CEO), Mr Tinotenda Mhiko said the facility was a welcome development that was a game changer for rural irrigation schemes.

“The facility is a welcome intervention, which could not have come at a better time as we prepare for the 2022/23 summer cropping season and the winter season thereafter. It is obviously a game changer as it shall unlock over 2 800 hectares of irrigable hectarage from the rural irrigation schemes,” said Mr Mhiko.

He said the irrigable hectarage will produce an additional 14 000 tonnes of wheat and 14 000 tonnes of maize, thereby adding four percent and one percent contributions respectively towards the national wheat requirements and strategic grain reserve maize requirements.

Mr Mhiko said it would also translate to an average annual dividend of US$ 1 341 per rural household across the 5 700 rural household beneficiaries of the irrigation schemes to be rehabilitated.

Under the SIIDF the funds under will be disbursed through the National Budget starting in January 2023 to the identified 18 smallholder irrigation schemes spread in the eight rural provinces of Zimbabwe, excluding Harare and Bulawayo metropolitan provinces.

The main objective of the facility is to ensure food and nutrition self-sufficiency to the vulnerable smallholder rural farmers in Zimbabwe.

Economic commentator, Mrs Linda Sithole said the initiative will go a long way in enhancing climate-proofing to the vulnerable, ensuring food and nutrition security.

“It is a milestone development for the smallholder irrigation sector that had been neglected for a long time. The development came at a time there was need to improve food self-sufficiency and retain the regional breadbasket status, hence it will go a long way in enhancing climate proofing to the vulnerable, ensuring food and nutrition security especially to rural households,” said Mrs Sithole.

She said the facility is also aiding jobs creation as more people will be employed directly in the sector as it grows.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union CEO, Mr Paul Zakariya said the development will see the revival of irrigation schemes which in turn would address the long-term effects of climate change.

“This is a welcome development because our seasons are getting drier and drier so the most effective way of addressing water challenges and ensuring productivity is to harness water and develop irrigation schemes,” said Mr Zakariya.

Umguza based smallholder farmer Ms Sithabile Mlotshwa said the Government support came at a much-needed time and they were hoping more resources would be availed.