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Sydney Mubaiwa in Masvingo
THE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has rehabilitated 15 irrigation schemes in Masvingo province under a multimillion-dollar facility supported by the European Union.

FAO says the project is meant to address challenges around irrigation development and improve the country’s food security situation.

The United Nations agency’s representative, Mr Alain Onibon, told stakeholders during the official handover of the projects in Masvingo last week that they channelled resources towards improving infrastructure and issues to do with production, inputs availability, agronomy, marketing and payment of electricity and water bills.

Mr Onibon said they also resolved some conflicts at schemes, trained members, in addition to addressing environmental and health concerns.

“The programme has covered all the seven districts of Masvingo province. So far all the rehabilitated schemes have resumed operations,” said Mr Onibon.

“Under this programme, we are targeting a number of irrigation schemes in the province that were lying idle due to the effects of floods and breakdown of vital machinery.

“Some of the irrigation schemes include Nyatare and Mabvute in Zaka, Stanmore and Mushandike, among others”.

The province has 68 irrigation schemes excluding those run by the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) and those developed by non-governmental organisations without the Department of Irrigation’s direct influence.

Said Mr Onibon: “As FAO we have carried out this rapid appraisal process at the irrigation schemes for which we have targeted to receive assistance and these are the ones that use electricity and gravity to irrigate. “Most of the projects (irrigation) are facing gravitational challenges with regards to moving water from the source.

Speaking during the same programme, Minister of State in Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s Office, Cde Davis Marapira, advised farmers to embrace relevant cropping technologies to boost crop production and ensure food security.