Published: 13 December 2017

A TOTAL of $51.7 million has been set aside for the rehabilitation of 6 100 hectares of irrigation land in four provinces under the Small Holder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (SIRP) beginning next month.

Speaking during a project inception meeting in Gwanda, SIRP Matabeleland South Provincial facilitator, Mrs Mavis Chikumbirike, said $51, 68 million had been allocated for the seven year programme.

She said the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) was expected to contribute $25,5 million with Government contributing $7, 9 million, $3.3 million from beneficiaries and $15 million from OFID.

"The SIRP programme will be implemented in four provinces across the country namely Matabeleland South, Midlands. Masvingo and Manicaland Provinces. Under the programme, 125 small holder irrigation schemes with a total 6 100 hectares will be rehabilitated, expanded or solar powered.

"The programme was set to begin on 16 November last year but it didn't because of some challenges. It is earmarked to begin in January next year. At the moment we are holding inception meetings at provincial level and then they will cascade to district and village level," she said.

Mrs Chikumbirike said the SIRP programme was targeting 15 000 households. She said the programme sought to address various challenges being faced in the agricultural sector such as low production and productivity, poor quality produce and inconsistent supply leading to limited market access among others.

"These challenges have compromised the resilience of rural communities and increased their vulnerability to climatic and economic shocks. It is against this background that SIRP has been designed. Farmers supported by irrigation are more food and nutrition secure.

"The main objectives of this programme are to increase income in rural households and to reduce vulnerability of small holder farmers to climate change effects among other factors that affect their produce," she said.

Also speaking during the same meeting, Department of Irrigation Matabeleland South Provincial engineer, Mr Elvis Vutete, said 80 percent of the 6 100 hectares that were targeted under the programme will be rehabilitated, 15 percent was earmarked for expansion while five percent will be solar powered.

He said the programme will also provide capacity building to farmers, locals and key Government staff. Mr Vutete said in Matabeleland South Province, Chikwalakwala Irrigation in Beitbridge and Sebasa Irrigation in Gwanda had been selected as pilot schemes for the project. He said works at these two schemes will be carried out during the first year of the programme. He said remaining schemes will be identified by local villagers working with the councillor of their area and Agritex officers.

"The selection process will consider cost of rehabilitating the scheme, availability of water, scheme performance history, existing bills, market availability and farmer commitment among other things.

Also speaking at the same occasion, Matabeleland South Provincial Administrator, Ms Sithandiwe Ncube, said the programme was an example of the commitment by Government and its partners to develop irrigation agriculture and ensure food security.

She said the SIRP programme would go a long way in addressing food challenges in rural communities. Ms Ncube urged partners, stakeholders and the business community to continue forming synergies and linkages that would promote agricultural productivity.
- chronicle

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