Dr Made
Brenda Ziga Herald Reporter
Government has challenged farmers to come up with ways of mitigating the effects of climate change by adopting irrigation schemes that promote the production of crops all year round.
Addressing farmers at the launch of Moneymaker Manual Irrigation Pumps recently, Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Joseph Made said, farmers should use manual irrigation, which was viable.
“It is the duty of our farmers to find solutions to mitigate the effects of El Nino.
“Farmers should embrace alternative irrigation equipment such as MoneyMaker Max, and MoneyMaker Hip Pump. The manual irrigation equipment is viable as it does not require fuel or electricity, hence it is efficient to our small holder farmers,” he said.
Dr Made said small holder irrigation schemes were more viable in the reduction of poverty, thereby contributing to the Zim-Asset cluster on Food and Nutrition Security.
“Small holder irrigation schemes are even more viable in the reduction of poverty and in the reduction of rural to urban migration.
“MoneyMaker manual irrigation equipment contributes immensely to my ministry’s Zim-Asset cluster — one of Food and Nutrition Security,” he said.
Dr Made said with the use of manual irrigation equipment, farmers would be able to increase production.
“Small holder farmers are able to grow high value crops for both local and international markets. This manual irrigation equipment can therefore improve the livelihoods of farmers if they use them efficiently,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Minister of Women affairs, Gender and Community Development Nyasha Chikwinya said the irrigation equipment was appropriate and user-friendly, especially for women farmers.
“It is an appropriate technology, which is very user-friendly, especially to women, as it reduces time spent by women in the fields, and frees up their time for other activities.
“It is cost effective, as it does not need fuel or electricity, which makes it affordable for women, and it is easy to maintain,” she said. Moneymaker Managing Director Mr Brian Vere said the company was contributing to the economy by ensuring food security through the sale of affordable irrigation equipment to small holder farmers.
“Moneymaker contributes to food security by selling appropriate, efficient and effective irrigation equipment to farmers at an affordable price.
This technology helps towards achieving inclusivity in the irrigation sphere as it gives everyone with access to Zimbabwe’s ubiquitous open water bodies, to be involved in some form of irrigation at very low entry level cost, compared with other options currently on the market.