Zimpapers Logo

Phillipe Van Damme

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
European Union ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Phillipe Van Damme has urged farmers in the Matabeleland region to embrace the use of electricity and renewable energy to power irrigation projects.

Speaking during a tour of irrigation schemes in Matabeleland South being funded by the European Commission and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Mr Van Damme said the region had an abundance of solar energy, which farmers could exploit.

“It is apparent that water and electricity are the main challenges for farmers in this region,” he said. “The adoption of renewable energy, which is cost effective, can go a long way in increasing productivity.

“The climatic conditions here are very conducive for irrigation farming, complemented by a good supply of electricity.” Mr Van Damme noted that a number of projects in the region had a huge potential to contribute to Zimbabwe’s national economic development.

“We will take some of the findings to Zimtrade and see how best those farmers involved in citrus production can be capacitated,” he said.

Mr Van Damme called on development agencies to shift from the humanitarian aid approach perspective and focus more on developing commercial businesses at community level.

“We must get to a situation where we have farmers with a different mindset on planning, management and productive,” he said. “They must be capacitated with the right tools and skills so that they increase sustainability and economic development of their respective areas.” Mr Van Damme said Matabeleland South was conducive for both horticulture and citrus production in areas lying along major rivers.

“However, this can only be successful, with adequate empowerment of the man on the ground,” he said. Mr Van Damme called for the development of a value chain strategy to enhance profitability and viability for most irrigation projects. In Beitbridge, Mr Van Damme toured Bili, Jalukange, Limpopo and Shashe irrigation schemes.

He also commended Cesvi and the Shashe Irrigation Scheme Trust for breathing life into the 245 hectares project, which had almost ground to a halt. Cesvi country director, Mr Loris Palentini said they had received $1,5 million from the EU Commission in 2011 for the transformation of Shashe irrigation scheme into a model irrigation project in the province.

“We received a further $500 000 from the Germany International Co-operation and Schweppes Zimbabwe and this has seen the farmers putting 92 hectares on citrus production,” he said.

“This year alone they have managed to send 270 tonnes to the Beitbridge Juice Plant (a subsidiary of Schweppes) and we are hopeful that they will increase output in the next season.” Shashe Irrigation Scheme Trust chairperson, Mr Albert Mbedzi, said they were struggling to repair four irrigation pumps which were destroyed by flash floods early this year. “At the moment, we are relying on five pumps while we await the resuscitation of the broken down equipment,” he said.