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Thupeyo Muleya–Beitbridge Bureau

The three-year Zimbabwe Resilience Programme which the Government is implementing in partnership with a consortium funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has helped to revamp major irrigation projects in Beitbridge district. 

UNDP availed $5,3 million for the initiative that ran between 2017 and June 2020 which also covers projects in Nyanga. 

The resilience initiative is being implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). 

Other members of the consortium include Cesvi, Matopos Research Centre and Biohub.

Cesvi’s area coordinator for Beitbridge, Mr Munyaradzi Katemaudzanga, said although the rehabilitation project was expected to have ended last year, they were putting final touches on some projects. 

He said they had worked on River Ranch, Ndambe Phase 1 and 2, Jalukange, Bili, Dombolidenje, Shashe, Kwalu, and Tongwe irrigation schemes with the help of community members. 

“Civil works are at varying stages at these projects, while in some areas crops have been planted,” said Mr Katemaudzanga. 

“Under this project, we are also promoting the use of green energy through the installation of solar powered plants at the irrigation schemes. 

“This is done to ensure that there is continued production after we realised that electricity power cuts have been major operational challenges affecting production.

“So far they have equipped River Ranch, Jalukange, Bili, Ndambe 1 and Kwalu irrigation with solar plants.” 

Mr Katemaudzanga said it was very critical to make the irrigation projects self-reliant by the use of alternative energy sources.

He said they had covered 50 percent of the planned mechanisation works at the selected schemes. 

“At Dombolidenje irrigation scheme, we have installed a centre pivot irrigating 16 hectares and which is operating with a solar-powered booster pump,” said Mr Katemaudzanga. 

An electric fence has been put at the Jalukange and Bili irrigation projects have also which had been hit by a power outage for more than three years after the destruction of the main power supply line by a storm.

Jalukange Irrigation Management Committee (IMC) chairman, Mr Luka Madala Muleya, said: “We are grateful for the support we have received from Government and its partners. Imagine we have had three years of no farming activity here. 

“Now that we have a 32.24kw ground-mounted solar plant and four pump engines. We are looking at irrigating the whole 54 hectares and so far, we have planted green mealies on nine hectares, which we expect to sell on soon. 

“We have 140 plot holders here and 77 are women. This is community empowerment indeed,” he added. 

A youthful farmer at Jalukange, Miss Precious Soko, said the consortium had drilled more boreholes, fenced off the project and trained the plot holders on running the project. She said the proceeds from the crops at the irrigations scheme would help many people, especially women, to improve their income at the household level.

Ms Kwanele Sibanda from the same area said most women were excited at the prospects of improving food security at their homes and also realising more money for their general upkeep.

 “We are excited about ending food insecurity when we start growing cash crops here considering that the consortium has linked us with the markets. They have also helped us to attend to most of the operational challenges,” said Mr Livard Moyo.

“When this project is fully functional, we are looking at farmers getting more than US$500 every season, for the lowest earner.”

Mr Renicah Ncube of the River Ranch irrigation scheme said the introduction of the solar plants was a huge intervention that would end power supply challenges.