The Sunday News
Sione Amidu, Sunday news Reporter
THE Government’s thrust to empower communities continues to gain traction after the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP) moved in to resuscitate Silalabuhwa and Guyu Chelesa Irrigation schemes.
Silalabuhwa is in Insiza district while Guyu is in Gwanda district, Matabeleland South province. The smallholder irrigation revitalisation programme targets the rehabilitation of 6 100 hectares of smallholder irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe.
The programme is funded by IFAD, Fund for International Development (OFID) and the government to the tune of US$52 million.
It operates in Matabeleland South, Manicaland, Midlands and Masvingo. In Matabeleland South the programme is in Gwanda, Insiza, Beitbridge, Matobo and Mangwe districts.
With some irrigation schemes having been lying idle due to an array of challenges ranging from water, electricity and input shortages, the revitalisation has also been taken as an answer to the climate change issues bedevilling African countries.
One of the beneficiaries from Guyu Chelesa Irrigation Scheme Mr Atenus Maseko said the rehabilitation of Guyu Chelesa Irrigation Scheme has given hope to farmers despite having had a dry farming season.
“The rehabilitation of our irrigation scheme has brought hope to us.
This year we are having a dry cropping season due to climate change and most of us will not be cultivating anything from our fields since the crops have dried up. However, we will not die of hunger due to the availability of this irrigation scheme. There is hope.”
The IFAD country director to Swaziland Mrs Jaana Keitaanranta who was on a tour to both irrigation schemes in Matabeleland South last week said the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes will benefit communities as they now have access to water despite the effects of climate change.
“The construction of irrigation systems will help the communities and country at large. Guyu Chelesa Irrigation Scheme is one of the irrigation schemes that was revitalised and as a matter of fact a lot has been built from the beginning so the access to water is something that will definitely benefit the community.
Currently the Guyu scheme has improved access to water and the irrigated area has been expanded to 84 hectares. In this area everything is extremely dry due to climate change. This drought is affecting both the livestock and crops.
Through improved access to water many means of agriculture will be benefiting,” she said.
The chief director for Agritex, Stanale Tapererwa, said Government was working on modalities to have irrigation schemes around the country plant wheat to prevent shortages.
“The Government is emphasising on wheat production. I’m sure you are aware of the conflict which is going on in Ukraine.
That country produces over 300 million tonnes of wheat and Russia is also a major producer of wheat, hence because of the ongoing conflict there, we need to become self-reliant to avoid shortages,” he said.
