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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
Government has budgeted over $3 million for rehabilitation and support of irrigation schemes in the Midlands Province to enhance food production and security in the country.

In an interview yesterday, Midlands Provincial Irrigation officer Engineer Shingirirai Zano said there were 42 smallholder/communal irrigation projects in the province, of which 35 were fully functional and the difference needed rehabilitation, upgrading or modernisation. “We have a provincial budget of $3,7 million from the Government targeting 200 hectares per each district for this financial year,” he said.

“The money is under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).

“However, the money is not enough considering the increase in prices of irrigation equipment, most of which require foreign currency, especially pumps, and raw materials for PVC pipes.”

Eng Zano said they were targeting the development of irrigation schemes in Gokwe North and Mberengwa districts. “We are targeting the development of 796 hectares, but priority is being given to Mtange, with 134 hectares in Gokwe South, Chaora block 230 hectares in Mberengwa, Neta 20 hectares in Mberengwa,” he said.

“Most of the contractors with contracts on a number of projects have requested for an upward variation of the prices, an issue currently under discussion with the Ministry of Finance and the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe for a way forward.”

Eng Zano said irrigation schemes ought to take a leading role in producing food for the country to be food self-sufficient.