Story by Mhlomuli Ncube
THE Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is firmly on a drive to ensure national food security, with over 60 hectares of maize and 120 hectares of sorghum planted at the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme in Matabeleland North.
Farmers at the scheme expressed optimism over the cropping season, citing the strategic role of sorghum in sustaining their operations.
“We planted sorghum; that is the crop we are looking to fund all our expenses and then get our dividend from our maize,” one farmer said.
Another farmer noted that irrigation support had strengthened confidence despite uncertainties around rainfall. “We have planted in the hope of a good rain season, supported by our irrigation system, so we are even more positive. Sorghum will be very critical to us this year and we are excited about its prospects.”
The scheme, an important national template of irrigation agriculture, is not only reaping huge rewards for farmers but also harnessing modern farming technologies.
“We believe in science-based agriculture. Soil analysis is critical, and using the correct farming methods is of utmost importance when dealing with these types of soils and the realities of climate change. We give knowledge to our farmers in a practical way so that when they plant, they are guaranteed of getting rewards for their hard work,” Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme Manager, Mr Swithum Gomwe noted.
With food production targets being met and farmers increasingly empowered, the scheme reflects a broader vision of rural transformation, contributing to national food security and the pursuit of an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
