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From George Maponga in Masvingo

Chivi District in Masvingo has taken the lead in implementing command agriculture after launching a programme to develop hundreds of small-holder irrigation schemes using water from dams and perennial rivers to grow maize. The new thrust is being done under the village Zim-Asset concept spearheaded by Chivi Rural District Council chairman Councillor Killer Zivhu.The drilling of hundreds of boreholes is already underway to provide water for smallholder irrigation schemes.

Government is working on a $500 million command agriculture programme that seeks to produce two million tonnes of maize on 400 000 hectares of land to ensure food self-sufficiency.

Chivi – Mwenezi Senator Josaya Hungwe, on Wednesday said the command agriculture programme had already begun in Chivi District.

Sen Hungwe, who is also the Zanu PF secretary for production in the politburo and Minister of Pyschomotor Activities in Education and Vocational Training, said the recently concluded Chivi-Zim Asset conference had set the ball rolling for the command agriculture programme in the district.

‘’During the just-ended Chivi Zim-Asset conference it was agreed that all the sons and daughters from Chivi mobilise any form of irrigation equipment they might manage to make sure that the district becomes the maize producing hub for Masvingo province taking advantage of the numerous dams and several perennially flowing rivers to provide water, ‘’ he said.

Sen Hungwe said major dams earmarked for development of large-scale irrigation schemes under the command agriculture programme were Muzhwi and Bindamombe.

‘’We are not waiting for Government, the people of Chivi have taken the initiative to mobilise their own equipment to support mainly smallholder irrigation schemes while of course we would require state assistance to set up bigger schemes. Our target under Chivi Village Zim – Asset is to make sure that the district is able to produce enough food for itself because water for irrigation is there,’’ he said.

The completion of Tokwe – Mukosi Dam, Sen Hungwe said, would consolidate the district’s position as a pacesetter in the command agriculture programme.

Tokwe-Mukosi Dam is expected to be completed in December this year.

The dam located on the border between Chivi and Masvingo districts, will have the potential to irrigate more than 25 000 hectares mainly in southern parts of Chivi which are endowed with rich and fertile soils.

‘’Councillor Zivhu will leave a lasting legacy of a man dedicated to changing people’s lives and Chivi is poised to become a key maize producer in Masvingo province,’’ added Sen Hungwe.

Masvingo has come up with the winter maize initiative that has alleviated hunger in the province that receives poor rains annually.