Irrigation scheme to benefit 29 Chikomba households
Agriculture Reporter
Twenty-nine households in Chikomba, Mashonaland East, will benefit from a solar-powered drip irrigation horticulture scheme co-ordinated by the Swedish Co-operative Centre and funded by the United Nations Emergency Response Fund.
The scheme was commissioned on Wednesday and covers 1,9 hectares.
Farmers from six villages in Marondamashanu ward in the Manyene area are participating.
Four similar schemes are running in the district.
SCC climate change technical advisor Mr Elijah Rusike said they wanted to cushion smallholder farmers from adverse weather.
“This area falls under natural regions three and four where average annual rainfall is between 400mm and 600mm. The project will help to enhance food security and generate some income for the farmers.
“The farmers will use drip irrigation, which is another way of conserving water especially in cases where it is not readily available,” he explained.
Installed is a 400-watt solar panel that powers a pump to draw water from a 40-metre deep borehole before directing it to a 5 000 litre tank.
It is then channelled through 20 taps for watering crops.
The solar panel has a two-year warranty and a 20-year life span while the pump has a 25-year life span.
“So far we have put drip irrigation pipes that cover 240 square metres and the farmers will take it from there to complete the piping.
“They must grow high value crops and with proper management for crops like potatoes on a hectare, they can even score gross margins of up to US$5 000.
“We do not want to promote dependency so they should play their part and be able to maintain the infrastructure even long after we are gone,” said Mr Rusike.
Each of the 29 members currently has eight beds in which they have planted an assortment of horticultural crops and are under strict advice to use organic manure.
He also said the farmers must form study circles to promote a reading culture and exchange ideas and discuss production.
SCC country co-ordinator Mr Jonathan Kagoro challenged the farmers to adopt a business approach to farmers.
“In your committee you should have a member responsible for seeking markets, another for inputs procurement and maybe another to run the general affairs of the group with the help of fellow committee members,” he said. One of the farmers, Mrs Loice Chipo of Plot 3 in Mutasa Village, said the project would result in improved household earnings.
“The drip option will make it even easier for me to water my crops as there is no labour involved. I just need to get the water running in the pipes and nothing else,” she said.
The project means villagers also have better access to drinking water.