Story by Tendai Munengwa
ZIMBABWE’S irrigation expansion drive is accelerating, with large-scale production and distribution of equipment underway under the Government’s Accelerated Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Plan.
Suppliers across the country are ramping up output of booster irrigation kits and centre pivot systems, with installations now reaching farms in all provinces as authorities push to boost year-round agricultural production.
At Maka Resources in Ruwa, production lines are running at scale to meet growing demand.
“We started producing irrigation equipment for Government programmes two years ago… we are producing and dispatching booster kits for installation across provinces. We have revitalised a number of smallholder community irrigation schemes and the programme is ongoing,” Chief Executive Officer Mr Innocent Sibanda said.
The rollout comes at a critical time as Government drives an ambitious wheat production programme while reviving smallholder irrigation schemes.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the long-term goal is to significantly expand irrigated land.
“We have over 260 000 hectares under irrigation. We want 350 000 hectares to be developed through rehabilitation so that we can achieve over two million tonnes of maize from irrigation, even during drought seasons,” he said.
He added that Government is working with multiple partners to scale up infrastructure.
“We are working with Maka Resources to rehabilitate 26 000 hectares for smallholder farmers, as well as Valley Irrigation Company and Kumunda Irrigation, who are producing and installing centre pivots at large farms,” Professor Jiri said.
The programme is also building resilience against climate change, ensuring consistent production of strategic crops such as wheat and horticultural produce.
Since the launch of the booster irrigation scheme by President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa in Mashonaland Central last year, the initiative has expanded nationwide, enabling more farmers to transition to year-round farming.
The irrigation push is central to Zimbabwe’s broader strategy to strengthen food security, increase productivity and cushion agriculture against recurring droughts.
