The Sunday Mail
Hose Reel irrigation system technology from Brazil expected at this year’s Harare Agricultural show to run from 24 to 28 August
Emilia Zindi – Agriculture Editor
Farmers, school children and the general public should expect a fun-filled experience at this year’s 105th edition of the Harare Agricultural Show that is slated for August 24 to 29.
The annual Show is held every August at the Exhibition Park in the capital. This year’s theme is ‘Enhancing Agricultural Productivity, Managing Climate Change’. For the first time, the six-day Show will be having the same theme throughout its major events.
The Harare Agricultural Show has been growing from strength to strength as more people who benefited under the land reform programme have been reaping big and exhibiting their produce at the annual event.
The Show must be treated with the seriousness it deserves as it brings together all the stakeholders in the agricultural sector to exchange knowledge on farming techniques and technology.
This year’s theme emphasises the need to take climate change as a serious threat to the survival of agriculture, especially considering the 2014/15 agricultural season’s devastating drought effects which were a rude awakening to stakeholders within the sector.
The season started off very well with high expectations from both farmers and authorities, there were even optimistic projections that the 2013/14 grain harvest of 1,4 million tonnes would be exceeded. However, climate change took its toll and destroyed stakeholders’ confidence after the anticipated bumper harvest dwindled.
The mid-season drought which caught the farming community unaware amplified the need to move away from over relying on rain-fed agriculture. Investments need to be poured into irrigation schemes.
In this light, Government has since embarked on a 25-year phased irrigation development plan whose aim is not only to increase the irrigated area but also to correct historical imbalances in land, water and irrigation technology utilisation among the different farming sectors in the country, be they small scale, commercial, A1, A2 or communal.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development projects that 2 243 000 hectares should be under irrigation 25 years from now.
The programme has been put under short term (zero to two years), medium term (three to 10 years) and long term (11 years to 25 years).
During the short term, focus will be on rehabilitation of irrigation schemes and completion of on-going development projects.
“The aim is to ensure that all land equipped with irrigation infrastructure is fully functional and to expand the area equipped and functional by 110 000 to 240 000 hectares,’’ said Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Dr Joseph Made.
In the medium term, the focus will be on the expansion of existing schemes and development of new ones to fully utilise water stored in all existing dams with the intention of increasing area equipped and functional by 736 000 976 000 hectares.
The long term plan will focus on the development of large irrigation schemes using dams currently under construction as well as those to be constructed in order to increase the area equipped and functional by 1 267 000 hectares, thereby bringing the total irrigated area to 2 243 000 hectares.
Irrigation technology choice will be guided principally by energy, water and labour saving to ensure efficient and effective production systems.
Among the irrigation technologies to be adopted include centre and liner pivots, hose reel sprinkler, semi-portable sprinkler, micro-sprinkler, drip and flood irrigation systems depending on the suitability of the soil type, slop and crops to be irrigated.
This year’s Agricultural Show is expected to provide a platform for farmers to learn more on these irrigation technologies.
The centre and linear pivot system for instance, is a highly efficient system which helps to conserve water. This system help farmers reduce the cost of irrigation water as well as pumping costs.
Farmers are on record for complaining about the high costs of irrigation charges which has seen most irrigation schemes lying idle as water disconnections have taken centre stage after farmers failed to pay the exorbitant Zinwa bills.
Although expensive to install, this type of irrigation technology is highly efficient and it is hoped that Government will chip in and facilitate in their acquisition.
The hose reel or travelling gun sprinkler technology is a system that uses a large sprinkler mounted on a movable trolley.
The Harare Agriculture Show is organized by the Show Society and has been successful every year despite facing several challenges that come with organizing such a big show.
The Show’s public relations officer, Ms Heather Madombwe said the Show is a fruitful partnership of the urban and rural people, City Fathers, ZAS, exhibitors and the public in general.
“This will provide a unique opportunity to discuss before, during and after the Show and find solutions to the problems of climate change. New charges, new trophy categories including the stand with the best display aligned to the Show Theme and the best new agricultural entrant are planned,’’ she said.
