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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu-Bulawayo Bureau 

FOR Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme farmers in Gwanda, the 25th of October 2022 shall go down in history as the day they harvested their first ever crop at their recently established scheme, thanks to Government’s accelerated rural development and industrialisation drive in line with Vision 2030.

The farmers are in the process of harvesting 45 hectares of wheat crop.

They are also packaging the wheat in 50kg bags for delivery to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).

The farmers who could not contain their joy have surpassed their target. The farmers who had planted their wheat crop late were expecting a yield of two tonnes per hectare but their average yield is four tonnes per hectare following intervention from the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda), Agritex and the Department of Irrigation.

Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme which had remained a dream for the past 87 years, became a reality after Government in September last year channelled $177 million towards the establishment of Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme as part of its accelerated efforts to revitalise irrigation schemes to ensure food security.

The funds were used to develop infrastructure such as installation of water pipes and pumps and purchase of a centre pivot.

The farmers at the scheme, which was first mooted in 1935, also received a $20 million loan through the Land Agricultural Development Bank of Zimbabwe (LADBZ) for land preparation and planting. 

The irrigation scheme has 157 farmers from six villages in Ward 6. The scheme has 200 hectares of arable land.

The chairman of Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme, Mr Ndabezinhle Nyoni said their community has been uplifted following Government intervention.

“We started harvesting our wheat using a combine harvester yesterday and we hope to have finished on Friday. Members of the scheme have come in large numbers to witness the harvesting. 

“The women are sieving the wheat while the men are packing it into 50kg bags,” he said.

 Mr Nyoni said they are looking forward to realising enough to pay back part of their loan.

He said as scheme farmers, they felt honoured to contribute to the country’s granary and assist in feeding the nation.

Mr Nyoni said they want the irrigation scheme to be among the most productive irrigation schemes in the country.

He said once they complete harvesting wheat, they will immediately prepare for summer cropping as they had already received seed maize.

“We are grateful to Government under the leadership of His Excellency President Mnangagwa for uplifting us as a community and putting us on the map. President Mnangagwa said no place will be left behind in development and indeed we haven’t been left behind. 

“This is the first time that we are having wheat being produced for commercial purposes in our area,” said Mr Nyoni.

A farmer at the irrigation scheme, Ms Sinobuhle Sibanda said the intervention from Agritex and Arda through their scheme manager had gone a long way in ensuring that they recorded a good yield. She said their next yield will even be better.

Ms Sibanda said what they are harvesting from the irrigation scheme will go a long way in improving their livelihoods.

Another farmer, Mr Pritchard Sibanda said cultivating crops under irrigation will enable them to grow crops throughout the year.

He said Government came to their aid when they had lost hope of establishing an irrigation scheme in their area as the project had been on paper for many years.

Mr Sibanda said their good wheat harvest was confirmation of the hardwork they had put in.

Mr Irvine Sibanda who is the treasurer of the scheme said they were looking forward to expanding their irrigation scheme.

“For the winter crop we had planted 45 hectares and plans are underway to expand the scheme so that we can irrigate 100 hectares for the summer crop. Land preparation is underway on the additional space and we are looking forward to getting some equipment soon for watering the expanded area,” he said.

Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme which is being managed by Arda, is set to transform subsistence agriculture at household level into commercial agriculture as part of rural development and industrialisation

The scheme has been established as part of an integrated business model that is being replicated across the country as part of the National Food Security Strategy. President Mnangagwa launched the pilot project at Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme late last year

The Arda Vision accelerator model seeks to stimulate rural industrialisation through agricultural development as the nation works to attain an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

Under the model each district across the country will have 200 hectares under irrigation with the beneficiaries being locals.

This will enable households to achieve food self sufficiency in terms of the grain requirements and access to processed commodities at household level.

Government working with various partners is rehabilitating irrigation schemes that have been lying idle in Matabeleland South Province and establishing new ones in order to improve food and nutrition security and ensure attainment of Vision 2030.

Government is targeting to rehabilitate and develop 350 000 hectares of land by 2025 across the country to safeguard the country against the negative effects of climate change and ensure food security. 

The Second Republic is prioritising the revival of the agricultural sector.

Government has also rolled out various agricultural schemes meant to transform subsistence agriculture at household level into commercial agriculture. 

Managers have also been deployed to irrigations schemes across the country to maximise production thereby ensuring food security.