Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
The District Development Fund (DDF) has earmarked four irrigation schemes in Mashonaland Central province, including Mudotwe in Musiiwa Village, as part of the 100-day quick-win projects. It is believed that the rehabilitation of the irrigation infrastructure will help reduce poverty and promote food security, particularly when rains fail.

In a speech read on his behalf by acting provincial director Mr Admore Shereni at the commissioning of the projects last week, Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha said the new political administration’s policies were driving food security-related projects.

“This is a clear testimony of DDF’s fulfilment of its role and mandate of uplifting the living standards of the rural folks,” said Adv Dinha.

DDF provincial coordinator Mr Keni Clement Mutombo said Mudotwe Irrigation Scheme, which was established by DDF in 1988, used to cover 34 hectares, had 17 beneficiaries. However, the project has since been expanded.

“In 1994, the scheme was extended by 32 hectares and 16 beneficiaries ,totalling 66 hectares and 33 members, and they were labelled (Scheme) A and B,” said Mr Mutombo.

“The scheme operated until 2003 without major challenges, but problems started in 2004 until 2014 because the community could not manage maintenance costs. DDF was given a directive by Cabinet to rehabilitate all small community-owned irrigation which is key to improving food security at household level.

“$25 772, 54 was used for the project and the dam was raised by 50 centimetres to increase its storage capacity. We are ready to move on to Chindotwe in Mt Darwin, Manga in Bindura and Mbire district.”

Added Mr Mutombo: “We have noted that the B scheme is not able to fully utilise this project due to low pressure and water is not able to reach their fields. We will rectify this problem.”

Mashonaland Central Agritex provincial head Mr Stanslaus Tapererwa said 30 000 hectares were under irrigation before the land reform programme, but the figure had progressively declined to 12 000 hectares.

“We want to return to 30 000 and surpass the figure,” he said. “We have received 12 centre pivots and seven are currently in use. We are expecting more centre pivots.”

An engineer in the department of irrigation Tafadzwa Gwasha thanked DDF and Government for its support.

“We thank Government for not giving up on us. Continue to support us. We urge farmers to place high-value crops under irrigation so that you will manage to pay electricity bills. We need extension officers to help farmers with information,” he said.

“Two hundred hectares per district in the province will be developed under Command Agriculture, 180 hectares will be developed in Maparo and 20 in Masembura.”