Lake Mutirikwi is a prime water storage source for irrigation for Hippo Valley Estates.

By Nyasha Chingono

CRITICAL dam levels at Lake Mutirikwi and delays in the completion of Tokwe Murkosi dam remain a major hurdle in the revival of irrigation at sugar plantations in the Lowveld, a local sugar producer has said.
The low levels of water are expected to impact negatively on sugar production in 2017.
Lake Mutirikwi, Zimbabwe’s highest concrete arch dam after Kariba, is a prime water storage source for irrigation for Hippo Valley Estates but is currently critically low at about five percent of its capacity.
Of the five percent 2,5 percent is used as portable water for domestic consumption while the rest is used for irrigation, a desperate situation for sugar cane farmers.
The El Nino induced drought would continue to affect sugar production at plantations as water sources dwindle, according to Hippo Valley Estates chairman, Murray Munro.
“At the back of the El Nino induced drought and the resultant low dam levels, irrigation water continued to be restricted,” said Munro in a statement accompanying the company’s latest financial results.
Munro added that a persistent drought would lead to a reduction of sugar supply.
“If the drought continued over the next summer in the catchment areas of the key dams then it could lead to a reduction in sugar production in 2017/18 of up to some 150 000 tonnes compared to 2016/17,” said Munro.
Hippo Valley has forecasted a growth in sugar production from 412 000 tonnes this season to 440 000 tonnes next season.
Growth of sugar supply hinges on the completion of the Tokwe Murkosi Dam.
According to the company’s unaudited interim results for the six months to September 30, 2016, the critical dam levels would impact sugar production in the lowveld.
“Total sugar production in 2016/17 continues to be impacted by the effects of reduced irrigation due to low dam levels. The industry production for 2016/17 is estimated to be between 430 000 and 440 000 tonnes, compared to 412 000 tonnes last year,” said Munro.
Tokwe Murkosi dam, which received a US$20 million capital boost from government recently, is 96 percent complete and is expected to be commissioned at the end of the year.
“The imminent completion of the Tokwe Murkosi Dam will diversify the water catchment area and provide increased stability in future water supply,” Munro said.
At completion the dam is expected to irrigate 25 000 hectares of sugar cane plantations, while citrus plantations and power generation projects are also in the pipeline.
Zimbabwe faced one of its worst drought in the last season, resulting in major supply dams dwindling.
This affected the overall volume of cane deliveries due to lower cane yields precipitated by restricted irrigation as a result of low dam levels.
Hippo Valley is forecasting another tough season compounded by a late start of the rain season, although production is set to recover over years.
“The weather forecast for the coming summer in the key growing and catchment areas is for average to above average rainfall. However 2017/18 crops will nevertheless be impacted by the current reduced irrigation regime. Given the recent start of the current rainfall season and a recovery of key dam levels, total industry sugar production is expected to recover over two years,” said Munro.
The sugar industry currently has 60 000 tonnes of installed milling capacity, but power and water supplies have been a major hurdle.
“Current weather and growing conditions are masking the substantial progress that is being made with intensive agricultural improvement programmes, irrigation efficiency and power reliability. The industry has more than 600 000 tonnes of installed milling capacity, which requires little capital expenditure to use the additional available capacity,” said Munro.
Sugar production in the period to September 2016 amounted to 155 522 tonnes compared to 157 877 tonnes for the same period last year, a marginal decrease of one percent.
[email protected]