The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Farming Correspondent
THE United States African Development Fund (USADF) has extended a $US97 095 grant to Deure Irrigation Scheme at Birchenough Bridge in a gesture likely to transform its horticultural capacity and livelihoods while alleviate operational and financial challenges at the ambitious scheme.
The Deure scheme was established in 1947 and is strategically located at the centre of three major cities of Mutare, Chipinge and Masvingo, thereby presenting the smallholder farmers adequate marketing opportunities.
The scheme boosts of 360 hectares and draws irrigating water from Ruti Dam in Buhera. The grant signing ceremony between the USADF and Deure Irrigation Scheme leaders was held last Wednesday, at Birchenough Bridge.
The scheme chairperson Mr Madhara Zhamba applauded the gesture saying it was a cure-all.
“We are really excited about this gesture. We formed a co-operative because we wanted to establish formal business and be able to share ideas, among other things. We want to market Deure and Birchenough to the world through high quality products. We have abundant water and land though we were facing challenges of shortages of agricultural inputs,” he said.
The scheme is operating as a co-operative and will use the funds for procuring agricultural inputs in bulk and sell to farmers for a profit.
The cooperative will also buy produce from farmers and sell it in bulk as well as creating a revolving fund for the cooperative which will allow farmers to access inputs at an affordable price.
The scheme comprise of 712 smallholder farmers in Tama Village, Buhera and landholding size of 0.4 hectares per farmer.
Farmers specialise in the all-year production of green maize, sugar beans, groundnuts (for fresh market), tomatoes, cabbages, onions, chilies, carrots and butternuts.
United States Embassy deputy chief of mission Mr Thomas Hastings said: “We are celebrating the grant. The US Government supports the people of Zimbabwe in many ways and very often that support involves enhancing food security. It is important to take farming as a business and business training is important. The first time that Deure applied for a grant from USADF it was refused because the group was not registered and did not have its financial papers in order. When they applied for the second time it was considered. We need to celebrate the day. I have seen a lot of positive things in Zimbabwe.”
Mr Absalom Marwa, the executive director of LEAD, a non-governmental organisation, dedicated to building and or restoring the dignity of disadvantaged groups or communities through sustainable livelihood options and appropriate economic empowerment initiatives, and has been assisting the scheme said: “The assistance will go a long way in ensuring positive community development. It is my hope that this gesture positively transforms communities served by the irrigation scheme.”
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said: “This is a welcome development. The project is enough testimony that our relationship with the United States is improving. Our relationship had constraints previously, but we are now working cordially with the US, as evidenced by this gesture. We are grateful with the development.”
