Story by Gay Matambo
THE revitalisation of the Romsley Irrigation Scheme in Makoni South, Manicaland Province, is accelerating rural industrialisation and strengthening food security as Government intensifies irrigation-based commercial agriculture under the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP).
The 385-hectare scheme, which had suffered years of decline due to ageing infrastructure and erratic rainfall, has been rehabilitated to support hundreds of smallholder farmers, marking a significant shift from subsistence to market-oriented production.
Government intervention under SIRP has restored water delivery systems, enabling year-round production and transforming livelihoods in the Makoni South community.
Farmers at the scheme say irrigation farming has improved incomes and reduced vulnerability to climate shocks.
“We thank our President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, for revitalising this scheme for us. We are getting busy, and we are no longer living from hand to mouth. Gone are the days when we would struggle to make ends meet. This time, we have managed to beat poverty thanks to the government for revitalising our scheme. We are hopeful that in the next five years we will be transformed for the better because we are seeing the benefits of practising irrigation farming instead of concentrating on subsistence farming. We are now taking farming as a business,” the farmers said.
The scheme is also benefiting from a joint venture with Tensor Munda Murefu, which has introduced financial support, skills transfer and commercial discipline among participating farmers.
Romsley Irrigation Scheme foreman, Mr Tendai Nyakunhuwa, said the partnership has expanded employment and improved production standards.
“We are grateful to the government for the revitalisation of this scheme. The scheme under Tensor Munda Murefu has employed 120 people, and farmers now have the knowledge on how to take farming as a business. We now operate under targets, and they understand that we are producing quality products for export markets. We sell our produce to Mozambique and across the country, with communities in Makoni district being the direct beneficiaries,” he said.
Beyond Romsley, large water bodies such as Marovanyati Dam in Buhera and Muchekeranwa Dam on the border of Marondera and Makoni are strengthening irrigation development in Manicaland, with Marovanyati already supporting more than 1 200 hectares under irrigation.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said irrigation remains central to national agricultural transformation.
“At the national level, we must have full investments in irrigation, ensuring our water bodies are connected to the production points which utilise it. The country has the potential to irrigate up to two million hectares of land if all existing dams and those under construction are fully utilised,” he said.
The rehabilitation of irrigation schemes nationwide is expected to enhance productivity, stimulate rural economies and position Zimbabwe as a competitive agricultural producer in the region.
