The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT initiated Vision 2030 Accelerator Model has turned Bwerudza Irrigation Scheme in Chipinge into a commercial enterprise.
Speaking while announcing the development in Chipinge last week on Friday, Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka said the project aims to boost agricultural productivity and income for the local community.
As part of the transformation, 456 families who are beneficiaries of the scheme have become shareholders of the business model.
They will have a stake in the decision-making and profit-sharing of the enterprise.
Minister Masuka said through the business model, farmers will reap big business benefits that they were previously not enjoying as subsistence farmers.
“AFC Holdings Commercial Bank will be here during the course of the month to assist all of you to open bank accounts as you are now businesspeople. At the end of every month, you will be receiving your salaries just like any other businessperson,” he said.
The project was originally designed to support farmers’ livelihoods by providing them with water for their crops.
However, the farmers faced many challenges in maintaining the project and achieving positive results.
Minister Masuka said some of the challenges the farmers encountered include lack of technical skills and knowledge on how to use the irrigation system efficiently and effectively, lack of access to markets to sell their produce and inputs.
“Lack of financial resources and credit facilities to invest in the project and improve their productivity and income as well as lack of coordination and cooperation among the farmers and with other stakeholders will now be a thing of the past as Government is coming in and guaranteeing you as businesspeople such provisions.
“The irrigation scheme now has to operate as a business that will significantly contribute towards the attainment of Vision 2030,” he said.
He said the business will receive seed maize and fertiliser under the Presidential Input Scheme.
Minister Masuku also handed over a tractor, seed maize, fertilisers and pesticides to the farmers to capacitate them and ensure the success of the Rural Development Strategy 8.0, which is key to the attainment of Vision 2030.
He also highlighted the importance of irrigation for food security and economic development.
The scheme sits on a 166 hectare farm.
Minister Masuka said through Rural Development 8.0, Government is in the process of transforming all of the country’s 460 irrigation schemes into businesses.
“We have 460 irrigation schemes such as this one across the country and they sit on 20 000 hectares.
‘‘Government is in the process of transforming them into business models as it seeks to stimulate rural industrialisation through agricultural development in line with Vision 2030 which is anchored on driving the country’s economy into an upper-middle-income,” he said.
Minister Masuka explained that the Rural Development 8.0 model is a comprehensive strategy to eliminate poverty in all dimensions such as lack of food and water by linking agricultural growth, rural industrialisation and rural development with the Vision 2030 agenda.
He said President Mnangagwa initiated this innovative approach to make irrigation schemes more profitable and to empower rural communities to become active participants in the economy.
“This is how we are transforming rural areas into development hubs,” he said.
In an interview, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
Advocate Misheck Mugadza said turning irrigation schemes into businesses will boost farmers’ productivity and profitability.
He said the irrigation schemes was being underutilised for a long time due to lack of funding, maintenance and market linkages.
He said that by partnering with Government, irrigation schemes will be able to access modern equipment, inputs, extension services and reliable markets.
“This will also create employment opportunities for local communities and contribute to the economic development of the province. Turning irrigation schemes into businesses is a good turn of events because it will allow our farmers who are now businesspeople to maximise on productivity and profitability. We thank Government and welcome this move,” he said.
