Tapuwa Mashangwa Agriculture column
IN agriculture it is paramount to comprehend that nothing should ever be taken for granted regardless of how trivial it may seem. Many farming setups and projects have failed all because the manager or those responsible took for granted or overlooked obligatory and paramount requisites because they felt or seemed unnecessary.

With farming it is always best to emulate the functionality of a computer programme where each component and detail is crucial for the optimum performance of the machine.

Agriculture is not a walk in the park but a meticulous operation that yields great results and profits.

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes and re-vegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall.

Additionally, irrigation also has a few other uses in crop production, which include protecting plants against frost, suppressing weed growth in grain fields and preventing soil consolidation.

In contrast, agriculture that relies only on direct rainfall is referred to as rain-fed or dry-land farming.

Irrigation systems are also used for dust suppression, disposal of sewage, and in mining and have been a central feature of agriculture for over 5,000 years and the result of work of many cultures, and was the basis of the economy and society of numerous societies, ranging from Asia to the American South-west.

The method, frequency and duration of irrigation have significant effects on crop yield and farm productivity.

For example, annual crops may not germinate when the surface is inundated, causing a crust to form over the seed bed. After emergence, inadequate soil moisture can often reduce yields, particularly if the stress occurs during critical periods.

Even though the most important objective of irrigation is to maintain the soil moisture reservoir, how this is accomplished is an important consideration.

The technology of irrigation is more complex than many appreciate. It is important that the scope of irrigation science not be limited to diversion and conveyance systems, nor solely to the irrigated field, nor only to the drainage pathways.

Irrigation is a system extending across many technical and non-technical disciplines. It only works efficiently and continually when all the components are integrated smoothly.

The importance of one’s irrigation system design can’t be exaggerated. How one pieces their system together impacts how well it works, how much it costs to build and maintain, and how easy it is to expand in the future.

It’s the number one factor when considering the long-term value of the new irrigation system.

Initial irrigation investment costs are a small investment when considering the overall life of the system.

A good irrigation system design allows for proper coverage, easy maintenance, and ensures water is conserved.

A good design also takes into account how the system will be installed and tries to route piping where trenching will cause the least amount of disturbance to the existing landscape.

Design should also address the issue of expandability by leaving the door open for easy changes and additions.

The system should be designed with the future in mind.

Building the initial irrigation system in a way that allows for easy expansion that cuts down time and money. The future remains green and with adequate and appropriate irrigation installations the future is bound to be only greener.

l The writer is Engineer Tapuwa Justice Mashangwa, a young entrepreneur based in Bulawayo, Founder and CEO of Emerald Agribusiness Consultancy. He can be contacted on +263739096418 and email: [email protected].