The Sunday Mail
Centre pivots are cost and labour efficient
Private players can take advantage of several investment opportunities in irrigation development as Government intensifies its priority on irrigation strategies to combat effects of climate change that have seen the country’s agricultural sector being seriously affected, a Government official has said.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Joseph Made made the call during his presentation on the status of irrigation development.
“Investors need to come forward and assist in installing these systems on the farms so that our farmers can combat the effects of climate change,’’ said the minister.
The effects of climate change which were heavily felt during the 2014/15 agricultural season saw Zimbabwe writing off more than 300 000 hectares of crops.
Even drought-prone crops such as sorghum, millet and cotton were affected by the climate changes. As a result, the country’s crop harvest dropped from 1,8 million tonnes recorded during the 2013/14 season to less than a million tonnes.
Dr Made said Government is prioritising the rehabilitation of irrigation facilities so that they become functional in time for the 2015/16 farming season.
Dr Made said the area that currently needed rehabilitation stood at 56 000 hectares. These include A1 and A2 farms, old resettlement areas, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) farms and plantations.
In the communal areas, a total of 15 000 hectares are equipped while only 10 000 hectares have functional facilities. Under the A1 and old resettlement, a total of 30 000 hectares are equipped with irrigations facilities but only 23 000 hectares are functional, leaving out 7 000 in need of rehabilitation.
Under the A2 farming areas, 61 000 hectares are equipped while only 22 000 hectares have functional facilities, leaving out 39 000 hectares in need of rehabilitation.
Arda estates on the other hand have 17 000 hectares that are equipped with irrigation facilities but only 12 000 hectares are functional. In the plantations, all the 63 000 hectares that are equipped are functional.
Investments can be in the rehabilitation of the irrigation schemes, supplying lines of credit to irrigation farmers, development of new schemes as well as re-tooling the irrigation manufacturing industry.
“The estimated total cost of these irrigation development opportunities is $10 billion with my ministry ready to discuss project by project details,’’ said Dr Made.
He said those interested were free to approach his ministry for further details on the opportunities as Government gears up for the 2015/16 cropping season.
The country would not want to be caught unprepared in the event of the rains disappearing before crops mature as was the case last season.
Zimbabwe has enough irrigation water as major dams dotted across the country were specifically designed for irrigation purposes. They are, however, underutilised because of the poor state of the irrigation infrastructure.
The use of new irrigation technology is also lacking. The commonly overhead sprinkler system and aluminium pipes have become a target for aluminium thieves.
Minister Made said Government is looking at irrigation technology whose general guiding principle is energy, water and labour saving to ensure efficient and effective irrigated agricultural production systems.
While the centre pivot irrigation system is the most recommended, most farmers cannot afford to individually install this system because of the high costs involved.
The schemes will ensure farmers reduce production costs so as to remain viable in their farming operations.
For the past few years, farmers have been crying foul over the high costs of production compared to their regional counterparts whose costs were minimal.
Agricultural major costs are in inputs, water and electricity charges. Part of this challenge can be solved through efficient irrigation schemes.
