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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
STATE-owned enterprise Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) has engaged 290 business development managers to supervise the development and management of rural irrigation schemes.

Arda said the target is to engage 450 business development managers across the country.

The Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda)

The managers are expected to help farmers in their preparations for the cropping season and this includes coming up with budgets, soil sampling and recommending the fertilisers and seeds to be used.

The managers will also ensure timely land preparation, monitor planting, irrigation schedules, pests and disease control, weeding and harvesting.

In an interview, Arda chairman Mr Ivan Craig said the parastatal will ensure irrigation schemes improve livelihoods particularly in the rural areas.

“Arda is looking for business managers for the irrigation schemes and to date has engaged about 290 business development managers. Their roles will also include keeping detailed records on fields, customers, crops and samples as well as monitor and evaluate crop yields,” he said.

ARDA Board Chiarman Ivan Craig

Mr Craig said the target was to fill the remaining manager vacancies by December.

“Our mandate is to make sure that all the 450 irrigation schemes are up and running. Where irrigation schemes are non-functional we are working on reviving them,” he said.

Mr Craig said expansion of the irrigation schemes will depend on the capacity of the water resource.

“We are not just expanding for the sake of expanding. We make sure that whatever area we are opening is supported by the available water,” he said.

Agriculture is expected to create employment in communities and reduce the rural to urban migration.

Managers are also assisting farmers to grow for the export market hence are engaging ZimTrade.