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Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]

BIRI Irrigation Scheme in Mberengwa District is set to impact positively on food security and nutrition through improved yields at a time when the country has been hit by a prolonged dry spell induced by the El-Nino weather conditions. 

Recently, the irrigation scheme won the annual Irrigation Scheme of the Year award, beating 42 other schemes in the Midlands province.

The positive development following the successful rehabilitation of the scheme under the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme (Sirp).

The 117-hectare scheme has 280 members including 146 males, 136 females and 30 youths. 

Founded in June 2005, the scheme specialises in maize, wheat, sugar beans, and paprika and horticulture production.

Members have also diversified to make other products like sanitisers and bathing soaps to widen the income base. Biri Irrigation Scheme chairperson Mr Tinomuvonga Hove said last year they planted 66ha under wheat and achieved an average of three tonnes per hectare amounting to 200 tonnes in total.

“We put maize on 65ha and achieved over 300 tonnes. At the moment we have maize under 61ha of which maize on 21ha is maturing and the other crop on 40ha is in the vegetative stage. We also have paprika on 26ha,” he said.

Mr Hove said they have managed to “beat” the El Nino through irrigation, which has put them at an advantage point to ease food shortages during drought periods.

“Because of the hot weather conditions, we are forced to irrigate at night sometimes. We are working together as 280 farmers for our benefit and that of the district and the country at large in terms of food security and nutrition,” he said. 

The irrigation scheme has changed people’s livelihoods as some have purchased household items like carts, wheelbarrows and other successes using proceeds.

“Some have purchased both big and small livestock, improved household health and nutrition, payments of school fees, starting household small income generating projects like broiler and road runner keeping,” said Hove.

The project has enhanced employment creation in the community and Mr Hove heaped praises on the Government for facilitating the Sirp programme, which has resulted in increased water supply for the crops.

“We were experiencing water shortages and Sirp bought and installed three pumps and protected our pipeline from damage. 

“They also increased the pumping capacity of the canals and gave us syphons to assist in irrigation before training us on how to take farming as a business,” said Mr Hove.

Sirp is a seven-year programme funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad), Opec, Fund for International Development (Ofid) and the Government of Zimbabwe, which contributes to the resilience of smallholder farming communities in Zimbabwe.

Its goal is to reduce the vulnerability of smallholder farmers due to food and nutrition insecurity, climate change effects and economic shocks.

Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Owen Ncube, who officiated during the prize-giving ceremony said the Rural Industrialisation Programme as a Vision 2030 accelerator has seen massive development of irrigation infrastructure to enhance domestic production. 

He said irrigation competitions were re-introduced in 2017 as a tool for inculcating a culture of smart irrigation practices in smallholder irrigation schemes.

“The partnership between the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, and Ifad under the Sir has resulted in resounding achievements here in Midlands Province, one of which we are witnessing today,” said Cde Ncube. 

“Other notable irrigation projects under the Sirp programme include Mtange in Gokwe South, Zananda in Shurugwi among others.”

Minister Ncube said the Province continues to benefit from the various agricultural programmes being implemented by the Second Republic including the Presidential Schemes on poultry, goats, tick grease, borehole drilling, and Pfumvudza/Intwasa inputs, among others that ensure no one and no place is left behind.

“This best-performing and award-winning Biri Extension irrigation scheme has a total of 280                                                                                              beneficiaries, which translates into increased direct employment levels, as well as incomes. 

“Despite delayed rains this season due to the El-Nino weather phenomenon, we have witnessed remarkable crop production here in Biri Irrigation Scheme,” he said.

The participants of the irrigation competitions for 2023 were targeted at both communal and A1 irrigation schemes and 42 schemes participated in the competition.

Agritex officer Mr Tino Mapape who assists the irrigation scheme with farming expertise said the scheme has gone through several farmer training programmes, which include farming as a business, natural resource management, post-harvest and conflict management among others.

“We also commend Government support through inputs and as Agritex we are providing extension services to farmers on new training on new agricultural technologies through carrying out practical demonstrations,” he said.

“Farmers were taught and refresher courses were done on farming as a business. The irrigation scheme has a demonstration/trial plot where new technologies or varieties can be tried or tested.”