Water wise smart agriculture thrust paying off

Under irrigation development, de-risking and climate proofing production, Zimbabwe's Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has revealed that a strategic policy shift would see all dams constructed put to immediate use, unlike in the past where completed dams would be idle.

 

President Mnangagwa ordered the localisation of the construction of all dam projects as the country seeks to de-risk agriculture through an ambitious plan to irrigate 350,000 hectares by 2025.

 

An amount of US$3,60 million was disbursed under the UNDP-supported Green Climate Fund-financed project 'Building Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Zimbabwe', in selected districts of Manicaland, Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces.

 

The fund was to be disbursed towards rehabilitation and setting up of 21 irrigation schemes (six new and 15 existing), installation of solar energy for irrigation up to 30 hectares per scheme, as well as capacity building of 6,900 lead farmers.

 

The construction of Zhove irrigation project targeting 2,500 hectares was scheduled to commence in 2021 with a disbursement of $730 million.