The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Acting News Editor
BENEFICIARIES of Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme extension are expected to enjoy full throttle irrigation for their winter crop after suspension of the surface levelling due to the summer rains.
The levelling of Block A, which is 148 hectares, with 230 beneficiaries cultivating 0,6ha each, were suspended at the inception of the summer season as heavy machinery could not work on wet ground.
New irrigation infrastructure was installed on Block A, which has 148ha, and the land has to be levelled before handover for effective use of the flood irrigation system.
The work stoppage enabled the farmers to plant dryland crops which should be harvested before resumption of works.
Agritex supervisor for the scheme Mr Edmore Sithole said: “We could not stop the farmers from dryland planting as it meant we had to provide them with food.
They took advantage of the suspension of land levelling to plant and we expect the work to continue after harvesting.”
Nyakomba irrigation chairperson Mr Richard Nyagwaya said Block A, which is being expanded after the injection of US$18 million by the government of Japan, was partially complete.
“The major works comprising of canals, pump house and overnight storage dam are complete.
“The only outstanding work is land levelling. About 50 hectares were levelled and about 100ha remain.
“While the beneficiaries are very happy, we await full completion of the outstanding works.
“It is impossible for the heavy equipment like bulldozers and graders to work on wet land.
“We are pinning hopes on full throttle irrigation in the beginning of the winter cropping season. We have been assured that land levelling will resume on time to enable us to plant the irrigated winter crop,” said Mr Nyagwaya.
Land levelling, fencing and installation of electricity are being done by Government as part of the contractual agreement.
Mr Nyagwaya said irrigation schemes like Nyakomba that use pumps to pipe water from the rivers are critical to boosting crops, cushioning communal farmers from the effects of increasingly variable rainfall due to climate change and sustaining livelihoods.
Prior to the scheme establishment, the farmers were using rainwater to irrigate, and oftentimes their crops failed due to drought.
“Completion of Block A will enable all the farmers to grow agricultural crops, even during periods of less than average rainfall,” said Mr Nyagwaya.
The farmers have also cited high electricity costs, load-shedding, long distance to the market and fall armyworm as some of the challenges affecting them.
Each farmer pays an average electricity bill of $260 per month.
“We used to have a Government subsidy in the past, but this is no longer the case and farmers are grappling with Zesa bills. A farmer pays about $256 per month.
“Distance to the market is also a challenge.
“The nearest market is Nyanga, which is about 80km away, and when you take your produce there, there is no guarantee of a ready market. Load-shedding has not spared us, and it forces farmers to skip irrigation cycles.
“In most cases we irrigate during the night, but still it affects our water cycle, and resultantly compromises productivity,” said Mr Sithole.
The Department of Irrigation in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, with the technical partnership from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) is involved in the rehabilitation and development of the irrigation scheme.
Konoike of Japan and Masimba were the contractors involved in the scheme’s comprehensive rehabilitation and modernisation.
Expansion works stretched for two years.
The modernisation of Nyakomba will certainly increase productivity manifold due to the expansion of the hectarage, improvement in water conveyance efficiency, strengthening of technical services and scheme management.
