Story by Tamuka Charakupa
PRODUCTION is set to be revived at Nyanyadzi and Nenhowe irrigation schemes in Chimanimani West, following the intervention from area legislator Honourable Wilson Maposa.
The development comes at a time the government has committed towards the rehabilitation of dysfunctional and undercapacitated irrigation schemes through the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP).
The temporary intervention will see Nenhowe Irrigation Scheme getting two pumps which were formally serving Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme in Nyanga, after they were decommissioned recently.
Installation of the two pipes is expected to be complete before the end of next month.
“Nenhowe Irrigation has not been running for the past five years yet irrigation is the only way which these farmers from this region can produce,” said Honourable Maposa.
He added that he has been working on solving operational conflicts between farmers and contractors tasked with the rehabilitation of both Nyanyadzi and Nenhowe irrigation schemes.
“Progress has been relatively slow as far as the rehabilitation of the two schemes was concerned because of the conflicts between the farmers and contractors. We have however managed to bring the two parties to the table to map a way forward,” said Hourable Maposa.
Meanwhile, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, who visited Nyanyadzi Irrigation Scheme on Friday last week, promised swift response from government in completing the rehabilitation programme.
“We were implementing the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP) in Manicaland where about US$25,8 million was invested towards irrigation rehabilitation of four selected irrigation schemes, which are Chibuwe, Cashel Valley Cluster, Romsley and Musikavanhu.
“However, we are not stopping there because there are still more schemes like Nyanyadzi which still need massive rehabilitation. In the meantime, we are going to improvise to ensure production revives,” Professor Jiri said.
The concept of joint ventures also came under discussion with farmers being encouraged to partner corporates for capital injection.
“Commercialisation of irrigation schemes is a key component of the Government’s rural industrialisation thrust. We want those struggling irrigation schemes to consider joint ventures as alternative capital injection,” said Professor Jiri.
