Source: Zimbabwe Government
Zimbabwe Government Portal – Rural communities bank on irrigation agriculture.
Official Government of Zimbabwe Web Portal.
Agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy as Zimbabweans remain largely a rural people, who derive their livelihoods from farming and other related rural economic activities.
Irrigation farming is contributing significantly to households in terms of income in rural areas.
General challenges facing smallholder farmers include low and erratic rainfall, low and declining soil fertility, low investment, shortages of farm power – labour and draught animals, poor physical and institutional infrastructure, poverty and recurring food insecurity.
Despite the woeful lack of support to smallholders in agriculture, these people are doing reasonably well. Most are producing surpluses and re-investing in their farms.
Research has revealed that around two thirds of people in rural areas have produced more food than just for subsistence.
People in Masvingo under Stanmore B Irrigation Scheme testified that their irrigation-fed agricultural cooperative enables them to earn an income, as they are able to meet some of their basic needs.
Stanmore B Irrigation Scheme is located in Masvingo Province, 30km east of Masvingo City with 32 beneficiaries sharing a 32-hectare field.
One of the beneficiaries, Anna Chibaya, a 49-year-old mother of three said the programme has changed their lives and they can see a big difference.
Chibaya says she joined the programme together with her husband in 2014, and they have managed to develop their plots, build houses and pay school fees for their three children, who are all in boarding schools.
“The truth is irrigation agriculture is good for us people in rural areas, especially those of us from Masvingo since there is little rainfall.
“Irrigation agriculture has transformed our lives and we are now better people. We live the life we want and eat what we want, because we get money from the produce we sell at the markets,” she said.
“Because of this programme I was able to build a beautiful house, drill a borehole, and my children are both in boarding schools. Last year we bought a lorry and recently my husband bought a small car for me, a Honda Fit, because we are working hard, all because of this irrigation scheme, she revealed.
Chibaya said the Government in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) did a great thing for them in introducing this agriculture programme in their area.
