The Sunday Mail
Tawanda Mudimu
Photojournalist
A thriving maize crop can be seen stretching as far as the eye can see at the 180-hectare Bubi-Lupane community irrigation scheme in Matabeleland North Province.
The scheme, commissioned by President Mnangagwa four months ago, is the first of a new intensive agricultural production model that Government is rolling out.
It is set to be replicated in every province countrywide.
Under this model, which is called Vision 2030 Accelerator Model, Government plans to stimulate industrialisation of rural communities through engendering value addition and beneficiation.
Government will provide communities with irrigation infrastructure and start-up inputs through the Presidential Input Scheme.
The Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) will help manage the scheme by providing technical assistance and agribusiness advice.
On the other hand, Agricultural Advisory Services (Agritex) will offer extension services support through training farmers and equipping them with modern farming techniques.
The Bubi-Lupane project is currently benefiting 90 households.
The manager in charge of the irrigation scheme Mr Ngonidzashe Mupfumba said: “In this province, we have defied the odds; we are looking forward to a bumper harvest.
“We have done it with winter wheat and obviously with this maize crop on 180 hectares, we are expecting higher yields and huge profits and improvement of livelihoods in the community.
He said the Bubi-Lupane Dam was commissioned in 2012 but ha been lying idle.
“With the coming in of the Second Republic, this source was turned into a useful resource,” he added.
“We are now employing local people, especially the youth who receive monthly salaries.
“In addition to the salary, every household also gets a share of the profits after selling our harvest to the Grain Marketing Board.”
Each household received a $250 000 dividend after selling the scheme’s winter wheat crop.
Management, through ARDA, has compiled a database listing all the assets owned by members of the scheme.
The database will be used in future to gauge and monitor the impact of the scheme on livelihoods in the community.
“For example, if someone had one beast before the project was launched, after three to four years or seasons we look at how many beasts they have to ascertain the progress from the scheme.”
He said when the project began many were sceptical because they considered farming in sandy soils a fool’s errand.
“They thought it was just a waste of resources because of the sandy soil, but after the winter harvest, everyone is eager to work,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Shelly Nkomo said: “We are grateful for the scheme and support rendered to us by the Government through this project.
“We appreciate Government’s efforts to uplift the livelihoods of rural communities.
“Lupane was lagging behind in terms of development, but after three or four years we will be telling a different story.”
Another beneficiary Mrs Sikhulile Moyo concurred,saying the project was a game changer.
“The project has impacted my family significantly,” she said.
“I bought building materials for my new home.
“We are aware of President’s Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 programme to transform the country into a middle-income society and we are 100 percent in support of the vision.”
