Nesia Mhaka
Over 29 000 families in Zaka are set to benefit from Chemvuu Irrigation Scheme, which is expected to boost food security and household income in the district that has been affected by perennial droughts in recent years.

The irrigation scheme, which seeks to transform farming systems to ensure food security in the face of climate change, was rehabilitated by through $51 000 provided by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Zimbabwe

Speaking during the tour of the project the SNV Enhancing Nutrition Stepping up Resilience and Enterprise (ENSURE) Program Manager ,Mr Authur Masuka said the development of irrigation farming was a game changer in ongoing efforts to stimulate household food security.

“Climate change threatens crop yields in Zimbabwe. Over the past few years, our country has experienced rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and increasing extremities such as floods and prolonged droughts,” he said.

“Environmental changes, therefore, has far-reaching consequences not only for the agricultural sector, but also for the management of natural resources as well as the food security situation especially for the rural population.

‘‘This calls for solutions that integrate improvements in food security with climate adaptation and mitigation of food crop production and supply systems.

“SNV has therefore leveraging investment in interventions that promote, adoption and scaling of inclusive climate-smart business developments to enhance climate resilience throughout the agriculture value chains.

“The water-food-energy nexus becomes central to sustainable development.

‘‘Water is a finite resource and therefore focusing on water resource management, ecosystems protection, water supply and sanitation and agriculture value chain development is crucial in ensuring food, nutrition and income security of rural Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mr Masuka said the initiative was made to assist farmers and ensure they start to produce and create market linkages with suppliers already in the market.

“The overall goal of the ENSURE program is to achieve improved food, income, and nutrition security for 80,748 vulnerable rural households in Bikita, Chivi, Zaka, Buhera, Chipinge and Chimanimani).

“In the ENSURE program, SNV focused on creating and facilitating market linkages and access to financial services, strengthening rural business services and improving smallholder farmers business skills which improved the commercial prospects and ultimately the incomes of thousands of poor households in the six supported districts,” Mr Masuka has said.

He said local communities will be economically empowered through improved access to irrigation.

Zaka District is prone to droughts, hence improved access to gravity irrigation facilities will lead to increased resilience, enhanced food security and better adaptation to climate change.