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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The Beitbridge Rural District Council is courting development agencies to help revive irrigation schemes which have collapsed.

BRDC chief executive Mr Peter Moyo told The Herald recently that most major irrigation schemes in the district were facing collapse.

He, however, revealed that the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organisation were working on rehabilitating Bili, Jalukanga, River Ranch and Shashe irrigation schemes.

“We are looking for strategic partnerships to rehabilitate some of the major irrigation schemes, as a way of enhancing self-sustenance and food security,” said Mr Moyo.

“So far the EU and FAO has shown an interest in recapitalising four projects in Beitbridge West constituency. You will note that crops don’t do well under our rainfall patterns and hence the need to prioritise irrigation farming.”

He said some of the major projects that need urgent attention include Kwalu, Tongwe, Chamaswiswi and Tshikwalakwala.

Mr Moyo said irrigation water has become low and plot owners were failing to raise funds to repair broken down pumps or to electrify their projects.

In other cases, he said, farmers were pulling out of their projects due to viability issues.

“We also need assistance in revamping Tshikwalakwala irrigation scheme in Beitbridge East constituency, which has 65 hectares lying idle.

“The deplorable state of things at most initiatives was worsened by flash floods, which destroyed key infrastructure including fences and canals,” he said.

Mr Moyo said although the district was suitable for livestock production, it was wise to blend that with crop production mainly through irrigation.