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Business Reporter
TREASURY has availed $1,6 million towards the commissioning of 10 irrigation schemes countrywide in the first half of 2015 as part of measures to boost food security and nutrition.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the funds were targeted at putting about 427 hectares under irrigation farming in line with the country’s economic blue-print, Zim-Asset.

“During the first half of 2015, an amount of $1.6 million was availed towards commissioning of 10 irrigation schemes with potential hectorage of 427,” said Chinamasa while presenting the mid-term budget review statement last Thursday.

The 10 irrigation projects include Pollards in Matabeleland North (45ha), Hauke also in Matabeleland North (40ha), Igudu in Mashonaland East (150ha), Sadza in Mashonaland East (5ha), Dangarendove in Mashonaland East (68ha), Honde in Manicaland (20ha), Shashe in Masvingo (30ha), Chesa Mutondwe in Mashonaland Central (25ha), Tsakare Mashonaland Central (20ha) and Machirori in Mashonaland West (24ha).

Chinamasa paid tribute to the assistance given to the government by development partners for the development of smallholder irrigation projects.

“Allow me to acknowledge the support of our development partners in irrigation development. In this regard, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is administering European Union support towards 20 smallholder irrigation schemes in Manicaland and Matabeleland South.

“The project, which began in 2013, runs till 2017 at a cost of $7.8 million. I’m pleased to announce that $1.2 million was disbursed during the first half of the year against a projection of $1.9 million for the entire 2015,” he said.

In addition, the minister said, the Swedish Development Corporation was supporting 14 smallholder irrigation schemes with a programme budget of $6.3 million.

The support began in 2014 and is also being administered through FAO targeting 545 hectares in Bikita, Gutu, Masvingo and Zaka districts over the period to 2018.

“Of this amount, $967,000 was disbursed during the first half of the year, against an implementation target of $1.5 million for 2015 lowveld of Masvingo province,” he said.

On the Tokwe Mukorsi Dam project, Chinamasa reported that the government “has structured a financial arrangement being coordinated by the Infrastructure Development Bank to the tune of $40 million to avoid further disruption to construction at site”.

He said the project was set to be complete by March 2016.