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Sydney Mubaiwa in Zaka
Government has implored farmers to desist from poor farming practices that are causing siltation in some of the country’s major dams and threatening the ongoing irrigation development thrust.

Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Retired Chief Air Marshal Perrance Shiri also apportioned the blame for an increase in siltation of rivers and dams on unscrupulous traditional leaders, who were promoting illegal settlements in their areas of jurisdiction.

Addressing Zaka farmers at Fuve-Panganai Irrigation Scheme recently, Minister Shiri said practices such as stream bank cultivation promoted siltation of rivers and dams that provide water for irrigation. He said the continued siltation would affect agricultural production in the future.

“Stream bank cultivation is a cause for concern to farmers and law enforcement agencies. The practice must be brought to an end by bringing culprits to book because it (siltation) has an effect on dams levels.

In our country, irrigation has often been cited as a long-term solution to food security, but siltation in our dams and other water bodies derails Government plans to make sure the country attains food self-sufficiency through irrigation”, he said.

Minister Shiri implored the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and Agritex officers to be on the lookout for farmers who continue embarking on stream bank cultivation.

Most major and small dams in Zaka have been severely affected by rampant siltation owing to population pressure and poor farming practices in the catchment areas.

Zimbabwe is slowly shifting towards irrigation to attain food self-sufficiency in the wake of recurrent droughts caused by climate change.