The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
AS climatic conditions continue to change rapidly, becoming unpredictable and unreliable, rural women have been adversely affected by this negative and life threatening phenomenon.
Over the years, rural women have been grappling with excessive heat, unreliable rainfall patterns and drying up of water bodies such as dams and wells.
However, women in Makoni district’s Ward 21 have defied all odds to set up thriving irrigation schemes to mitigate against the effects of climate change which were adversely affecting their agricultural activities.
The women who used to rely on donor handouts are now self-reliant.
They are now operating commercially despite being in the heart of a communal area. The self-funded irrigation schemes source their water from Nyanzou Mountain and Mubvumira River through gradient.
The women are now growing commercial crops such as wheat, potatoes, carrots, onions, beans green mealies and are also into fish farming.
They have now moved from watering their garden with cans to sprinkler irrigation.
Five women in Mutindindi Village who draw their water from Nyanzou Mountain said they pooled resources to buy pipes.
Water is now being equally distributed among members.
Ms Alice Mawango said they have managed to give climate change and poverty sucker punches through their irrigation scheme.
“Our irrigation scheme was started by one family which was bold and innovative enough to siphon water from the mountain in 2018. Other villagers later came on board after seeing the success of the project. More have expressed interest to join.
“We raised our own money to buy polythene pipes. The costs were very high, but the return on investment is very encouraging.
“We started this project after realising that continuous relying on the rains would see us wallowing in poverty forever. Yields from rain-fed crops were decreasing with each passing year.
“We are selling our produce in Rusape and surrounding villages. Our lives have changed for the better. We now have abundant food. We now have money to fund our children’s education,” said Ms Mawango.
Mrs Barbra Pasimupindu of Mutwira Village, said after realising the ever-changing climatic conditions, they decided to be innovative to ensure their survival.
She added that their lives have transformed greatly through their bold move to draw water from Mubvumira River.
“We were the first family to siphon water from Mubvumira River and other villagers are following suit. The village is now a green belt because we are farming throughout the year. The era of waiting for the rains is over when we have perennial rivers flowing in our area.
“The availability of water has transformed us from being communal to commercial farmers. This year we are expecting to harvest three tonnes of wheat. We have changed our farming methods.
“Most women like me rely on agriculture for survival, but our source of livelihood was under threat from climate change. We have to be innovative to survive,” said Mrs Pasimupindu.
Ward 21 councillor, Councillor Caesar Chikunguru said climate change was taking a huge toll on rural women.
He applauded women in his area for being innovative.
“Climate change is causing serious food insecurity and the people who suffer most are rural women. The weather is changing rapidly and they depend mainly on agriculture. Some women here have found workable solutions that have made them food secure.
“If a woman is deprived of food security, she becomes vulnerable to Gender Based Violence and HIV.
“When a woman’s source of income is taken, she has to look for it. How? This can lead to cases of early child and forced marriages for young girls in exchange of grain. Parents will literally sell off their young daughters as well as their bodies for survival,” said Cllr Chikunguru.
