Davis Marapira

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Business Correspondent
THE government has secured $6.3 million from Switzerland for the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes in Masvingo province to facilitate winter cropping.

Agriculture Deputy Minister in charge of cropping Davis Marapira confirmed the funding breakthrough.

He said the funds would be used to spruce up irrigations schemes measuring about 700 hectares across the province.

“We’ve secured $6.3 million for the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes in the province. This is a shot in the arm from the Swiss government through their Agency for Development and Co-operation,” said Marapira.

He said identification of irrigation schemes that would be rehabilitated using the grant was under way and some of the projects were in Gutu, Masvingo, Zaka and Bikita districts.

Chivi-Mwenezi Senator Josiah Hungwe urged farmers in the province to work towards the reintroduction of winter cropping given that a number of dams have water that is lying idle.

He said Masvingo used to be a champion of irrigation agriculture but lost the tag due to ageing infrastructure.

Hungwe said Mushandike Irrigation Scheme, for instance, used to be the bread basket of Masvingo city in terms of providing maize, fruits and vegetables to the market.

The project has since been abandoned largely due to drought and human activities, which have led to siltation and ultimate drying of the dam.

Some schemes were destroyed by Cyclone Eline which hit the country 15 years ago.

Hungwe said there was a need to reclaim some of the dams, which were now heavily silted so that the province does not beg for food.

“We want to resume winter cropping for Masvingo given the state of food security in the province. Poor rains that have been received this cropping season signal drought in a number of districts especially Chivi, Mwenezi and Chiredzi,” added Hungwe.

He said more land would be acquired for winter cropping adding that companies with huge tracts of land were prepared to release some of the land.

“Recently there was a fruitful meeting between senior government officials in the province and management at the lowveld sugarcane giant, Tongaat Hullet, in connection with the release of some pieces of land to the people.

“We’re still waiting for a comprehensive report on the size of land that the company has pledged to the government,” Hungwe said.

“However, for now, I can safely say Tongaat Hullet boss Sydney Mutsambiwa promised me about 300 hectares and that land will be put under winter cropping. Land belongs to the State and no company has permanent rights over it hence we’ll always ask for more land for our people.”