Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
IRRIGATION schemes in Bulilima are underutilised as a number of farmers are failing to settle Zinwa water bills.

Speaking during a recent Bulilima Rural District Development Committee meeting, Bulilima District Agriculture and Extension Officer Peter Masotsha said production at Matjinge Irrigation Scheme stands at 20 percent while that at Tshankwa Irrigation was below 50 percent.

“Irrigation schemes are not producing as much produce as expected. The main reason is that people are failing to pay their water bills to Zinwa. As a result, villagers are pulling back and the water authority isn’t willing to continue supplying defaulting farmers with water,” said Masotsha.

“A lot of space is lying idle in the two irrigation schemes. Even the existing occupants are failing to be productive. The production level at Matjinge sits at 20 percent while at Tshankwa Irrigation it is below 50 percent.”

Matjinge area councillor Bornface Phiri said more than half of the space at the irrigation scheme in his area was not being utilised.

He said most farmers were failing to pay water bills charged by Zinwa as their operations were not profitable.

“Some villagers are really active at the irrigation scheme but they don’t have markets to sell their produce. Farmers harvested a lot in sugar beans the previous season but some still have this crop stored in their homesteads,” said Phiri.

“Other farmers realised that they were not realising profits and they withdrew their activities at the irrigation scheme.”

Phiri said some farmers were failing to plough their areas because of inputs shortage.

“The irrigation schemes are supposed to be a source of livelihood for villagers but the irrigation in our area is failing to serve this purpose. The land is just lying idle while people are starving and desperate for a livelihood,” he said.

Tshankwa area councillor Toni Mlotshwa said there was need for villagers to be equipped with resources to help boost production at irrigation schemes to realise the goals of Zim-Asset.

He said farmers were also desperate for reliable markets.

Recently, Trek Petroleum Company injected more than $2,7 million towards production of wheat and maize in Matabeleland South Province in a bid to boost food security and nutrition in the province on land that was previously under-utilised.

The project is being run in conjunction with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) at Antelope Estate in Maphisa and Ngwizi Estate in Mangwe District.