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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau

The 65-hectare Tshikwalakwala Irrigation Scheme, which has not been functioning in the last 15 years, is now restored to full functionality at a cost of US$1 million in a programme that started in 2019 and was completed this month.

The funding came from Government in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Now, the 113 plot holders are working with Agritex and have cleared 30 hectares under phase one. Maize and soya beans have already been planted.

The Government intervened to save the irrigation scheme from collapse through the seven-year Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme.

Under the programme, the Government has been able to mechanise the irrigation system, put in two ground-mounted solar plants with an output capacity of 75 kilowatts and 54 kilowatts and drilled eight more boreholes to add to the previous three which used to provide irrigation water.

The solar plants have capacity to irrigate 1 000 hectares and then electrify the local business centre.

The project was handed over to the community last year and members say income at the household level have improved.

Tshikwalakwala irrigation management committee chairman Mr John Kibi Muleya was grateful that the Government and its partners rescued the scheme.

Now the committee is planning an electric fence to deter wild animals from damaging infrastructure and crops.

“In the meantime, we have trenched around the irrigation project to stop wild animals including elephants and buffaloes from destroying our crops,” said Mr Muleya.

“We also commended the Government for its intervention considering that one of the major sources of livelihood for the community was fast grinding to a halt.

“Before this intervention, we used to operate on three diesel pumps and procuring diesel to power the pumps had been a headache for many years. Some plot holders were considering pulling out because of the state of affairs.”

Mr Muleya said after their first harvest of maize, most plot holders had started tilling the land and were noting the importance of the project.

Some plot holders are seized with harvesting the winter wheat crop after getting support from the Presidential Inputs Scheme.

There is also a proposal to extend the current 65 hectares to 90 hectares in a setup where 25 hectares would be put under citrus.

A plot holder, Mrs Grace Hlongwane, said: “As women, you will note that we carry the larger part of the social burden and it is pleasing that after such a big investment by the Government we are able to get an extra revenue stream.

“If you check, seasons have changed because of climate change, but under irrigation-based farming, we are able to grow crops throughout the year.”

The project has 62 female and 51 male plot holders.

Another farmer, Mrs Joyce Shoko, said since they started getting support on the irrigation project, more people were looking forward to improved livelihoods.

The construction of two ground solar plants, she said, had helped address power supply challenges to enable them to water crops consistently. She said the introduction of surface piped water was a better way of conserving water considering that most canals had succumbed to wear and tear.

“We are in a dry region where rain fed agriculture is a challenge, but since last year, we have been seeing the fruits of such a huge investment,” said Mrs Shoko.

Mr Jabu Sibanda said the revitalisation of the irrigation had brought a relief to many farmers in Ward 1.

He said it was pleasing to note that most male farmers who had started giving up on their plots were now coming back.

Resident Agriculture Extension officer for Ward 1, Mr Leo-Marvin Mawire, said they were rotating wheat, maize and soya beans at the irrigation project.

“We are using a block system to plant crops to ensure they grow and are harvested at the same time with better yields,” said Mr Mawire.

“For now we have planted wheat on 23 hectares where harvesting has started and are expecting a yield of 200 tonnes and above.

“In terms of water facilities, eight more boreholes have been drilled in the Limpopo River using modern technology, and we also converted the existing three to use solar.”

More horticulture crops would be introduced in the near future.

District agronomist Ms Eve Kuzwa said the Government had engaged a lot of partners to resuscitate most irrigation projects in the district.

She said the number of operating irrigation projects had increased from eight to 12 since 2018 and that most of these were using modern technology powered by solar.

Chief Matibe, Mr Elisha Mbedzi, of Beitbridge East said: “As traditional leaders, we are happy to see the Government addressing issues of food and nutrition security, like what has happened at Tshikwalakwala.

“Our wish is to see this project being expanded to carry more plotholders and for development players to fully use all water bodies and open more schemes likes these.”

The SIRP project is being implemented in four provinces and in Matabeleland South, the focus has been on the Tshikwalakwala irrigation scheme.

The communal irrigation project was started in the 1960s and had been grounded for a long time due to a number of challenges, including the use of diesel pumps which were costly.