The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
TREASURY has allocated US$45 million for the construction of 40 small earth dams across the country in 2023 under a programme aimed at boosting the national water harvesting capacity.
Small earth dams are water bodies designed to make smallholder farming viable, and complement large dams. This year, the Government completed construction of 23 small earth dams that will be in use for the 2022-2023 summer cropping season.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Dr John Basera, said the model is designed to address challenges bedevilling smallholder farmers.
“Drawing from the National Development Strategy 1, the infrastructure investment programme provides a new impetus in the delivery of projects that support economic recovery and growth, protect lives and livelihoods, create jobs and stimulate productive investment. Water harvesting is key in agriculture. We cannot talk of the sector without water and with the global warming being faced worldwide, we need to adjust with counter measures that will keep our sector alive,” said Dr Basera.
Chief director in the same ministry, who is responsible for agricultural engineering, mechanisation and soil conservation, Engineer Edwin Zimunga, said: “We are excited with the progress we made this year, of having set up 23 small earth dams, benefiting at least 398 smallholder family households. Such dams are suitable for supplying water to irrigation schemes, for rural and other water supplies (when properly treated) and for conservation measures. Going into 2023, the target for small earth dams is 40.”
Engineer Zimunga said there are plans for a massive campaign to educate farmers on climate change and the importance of building small earth dams.
“The world is grappling with the effects of climate change, and Zimbabwe is no exception. Smallholder farmers have been on the receiving end. It is our mandate to ensure our farmers get relief as we augment erratic rains that have characterised our cropping seasons.
“Wherever we construct these dams, making use of our highly qualified engineers, we also set up gardens and hand them over to the community but the operations will be monitored by the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services officer who will be helping farmers with agri-business advice for profitable operations,” he said.
The Government is constructing 12 major dams across the country, with some having already been commissioned.
