Irrigation, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development minister Joseph 
Made made the statement during a Provincial Consultative meeting on the National
Irrigation Policy.
Made said 154,500 hectares fell in the commercial subsector while the
communal irrigation sector with a total equipped area of approximately
10,000 is the most affected.
He said changes to the structure of land holdings had resulted in
the strong need for National Irrigation policy.
Irrigation farming, according to the minister, has a critical role to play in the promotion of sustainable
livelihoods and achievement of food security in the country.
“Our ministry estimates that with more use of groundwater and utilization of trans
boundary water resources such as Kariba dam, a total of 2,244,835 hectares could be irrigated throughout the
country,” he said.
Made said a National Irrigation policy was a vital instrument, not only
in agriculture sector development but Zimbabwe national economic
development as a whole.
The minister also said his ministry recognized that climate change was
rife.
“Drought is more common in the country. In
response, the Ministry is therefore emphasising the adoption of
irrigation technologies that ensure efficient application of water to
crops,” Made said.
He added that the rising cost and shortage of manpower meant it was necessary to adopt less
labour intensive technologies.
The ministry has plans to work
with the following companies:
Pedstock (Israel), Fockink (Brazil), Kirloskar
Brothers (India), Bauer (Austria), Irri line (United Arab Emirates) and
IMWI (South Africa).
Post published in: Agriculture
I am patriotic and do not want to talk politics but facts only.
It’s a pity that the Minister for Irrigation continues to talk like that. To many like myself it’s an insult. I was given a piece of land 8 years ago. It’s hard to imagine that ever since that time I was never able to secure a farming loan let alone a loan for irrigation equipment procurement. I could buy my own irrigation equipment and irrigate my crops. All I have seen has been demands for contributions from the Irrigation office for setting up of the irrigation fund. I paid in 2011 5us, and given all the farmers did the same imagine how much was raised and where is the money. Over the years inputs were rolled out through GM, some sold for as little as 15us for a bag of Compound D fertilizer. Considering that cronies bought off large amounts of this heavily subsidised commodity at the expense of the poor majority of farmers, it follows that Zimbabweans do not need these corrupt schemes rather we need sensible pricing policy which makes the inputs affordable and profitable for all. Where is the logic in seeing a GMB fertilizer bag selling for 15us and only accessed by ‘big wigs’ leaving ordinary farmers to get the same input on the open market at 40us. We don’t want such stupid business practice. We would prefer a system where government partially subsidises key inputs to levels where a bag of fertilizer on average costs 20us and everyone can access it.
The basic Economic law on Demand and Supply, in any business setting, postulates that, for a given product, price should be good enough to stimulate demand thus allowing the supplier to supply adequate amounts for a descent profit not Rent.
Meanwhile the purchaser buys enough at the right time to profitably satisfy his needs. Despite having highly educated economist the government is not tapping on this resource. What a shame! But you don’t need rocketry science to understand the level of abuse that occurred to these inputs at the expense of production. Combine harvesters and tractors were also procured by this ministry and the beneficiaries have been largely cronies. Again you don’t need to understand Nano-science to appreciate the level of abuse of state funds through the Reserve Bank for this futile purpose.
All we need as farmers and as a country is not hand-feeding but good governance and upright policies that support agriculture and business. As farmers we need don’t need free money but supported financial schemes, for example guaranteed 5% loans and we will do the rest. Who ever fail, after considerable opportunities being afforded, does not need to be wasting time on farms. The Minister should simply hand over the ministry to serious people – simple, and the country will move forward. Zimbabwe is so advanced and endowed with God given riches. People should not drag this country to the bushes; please lets think.