The Sunday Mail
Kuda Bwititi
Chief Reporter
Chimhanda Irrigation Scheme in Rushinga was on the brink of collapse as much of its equipment was in a dilapidated state.
Production had ground to a halt, with most of its members facing an uncertain future.
And then First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe came to their rescue as she unveiled farm equipment.
She donated two tractors, two ploughs, two rom discs, a planter, irrigation equipment and a fertiliser spreader — all acquired by Government under Brazil’s More Food for Africa Programme.
The new equipment’s commissioning has breathed new life into the scheme that is a source of sustenance for many people in the area.
First lady Amai Grace Mugabe cuts a ribbon as she officially hand over tractors and irrigation equipment to farmers at a Zanu Pf function held in Rushinga last week – Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda
Launched in 1991, the Chimhanda Irrigation Scheme is an archetypal example of how irrigation can sustain livelihoods.
Set up on a 72-hectare piece of land, it supports about 145 communal farmers who each work on half a ha.
Despite their small pieces of land, these farmers carry out intensive farming, thereby producing high yields.
During her visit to the irrigation scheme, Amai Mugabe said that the scheme exposes that smallholder farmers invariably perform better than their large-scale counterparts.
The scheme’s chair, Mr Chiremba Makumbe said, “We had not managed to produce anything at this scheme for several months. As you can see, much of the equipment had broken down and some of it is obsolete.
“For example, the electric motor was not functional. But now that we have received some equipment, everything is set for us to resume full operations.”
He continued: “We have learnt to make the most of the little land that we have. Some of the farmers at the scheme usually have three different types of crops at a time for example, one can have maize, butternuts and tomatoes on their plot. All this is possible as we do intensive farming. Plus there is enough water.
“When the equipment is in good shape, we are able to farm throughout the year. Our activities are commercial because at harvest time, we sell our products at Harare’s Mbare Musika and other big markets.”
Mrs Susan Gwizu – the deputy chair – chipped in: “All along, we have been using cattle to plough our fields. The tractors will be of great help in intensifying our activities.
“During our best days when the irrigation equipment was in good shape, we would make lots of money and pay our children’s school fees and other needs. We had secured ready markets in Harare with big companies. We used to produce a lot of butternuts. We also grow tomatoes, green mealies, potatoes and sugar beans.
“In groups of about 10 people or so, we would hire a 7-tonne truck to deliver our products to Harare and would usually rake in up to US$10 000 per load. ”
Rushinga National Assembly representative, Cde Wonder Mashange said the scheme’s revival would benefit the whole constituency.
“Chimhanda irrigation scheme is the industry for Rushinga. Besides ensuring food security, other institutions such as Chimanda District Hospital and all surrounding schools rely on products from that scheme. Most of these institutions were now buying agricultural products from as far as Bindura.
“Apart from the commercial activity, the revival of the scheme also creates employment.”
Cde Mashange said that the Rushinga model in which people are making maximum use of their land can be adopted countrywide.
At the handover ceremony, Amai Mugabe said the delivery of the equipment was in line with her drive to capacitate areas identified under Zim-Asset.
Apart from Chimhanda, the First Lady also delivered farming equipment to three other irrigation schemes in the province – Dotito, Tsakare and Chesa.
Amai Mugabe’s latest countrywide tour began in Kadoma in July, with the commissioning of equipment for a low-cost housing scheme that is set to benefit thousands of people in the town.
In August, she then visited the Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga, which has been identified under Zim-Asset as crucial to ending drought in the area.
Two weeks ago, the First Lady oversaw the first steps towards reviving horticulture projects in the Cashel Valley area in Manicaland province.
