(HERALD) Boost for agriculture

Boost for agriculture
Herald Reporter-Bulawayo Bureau.

1,25m ha under Operation Maguta l Irrigation schemes set for commissioning

GOVERNMENT has identified about 1,25 million hectares of land to be put under Operation Maguta this summer farming season and completed the rehabilitation of another 21 irrigation schemes countrywide to boost agricultural production and bolster national food security. The irrigation schemes, which are part of the 10-year-plan to put more than 600 000 hectares under irrigation, were now ready for commissioning, while the procurement of input and land preparation is now in progress.

Head of Operation Maguta Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba told chiefs in Victoria Falls this week that the Government was taking national food security seriously. Brig Gen Nyikayaramba said one million hectares were identified in the high rainfall regions while the remainder were in low rainfall areas.

He said in light of this, a survey on the quantities wanted by the provinces had been completed and by the end of September, farmers would have been given inputs.

"This coming rainy season we are putting about 1,25 million hectares under different crops as the Government intensifies efforts to feed the nation. Planting should commence as quickly as the rains fall," he said.

He said they were targeting other crops that are drought-resistant other than maize like millet, sorghum, rapoko, ground and round nuts so that if one crop fails, the other can be recovered. Brig Gen Nyikayaramba said in times of peace like Zimbabwe was enjoying, soldiers also protect people from hunger and that is why they were engaged in Operation Maguta.

He said communal farmers would also be given inputs through traditional leaders.

"We are also implementing the quick-fix programme where we fix farming equipment on farms as there is a lot of machinery lying idle needing to be repaired. Farmers can go to Agribank for working capital as we are only giving them inputs," he said.

Brig Gen Nyikayaramba said they were also going to revamp the Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala Senkosi concept and chiefs would be given inputs to produce for their families and district.

"This 2007/08 farming season will be different because besides the fact that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will be readily waiting to buy your produce with higher prices, all the crops will be fetching the same price.

"All I can say is that there are higher returns for the farmers this season," he said.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Infrastructural Development has, through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, embarked on a massive rehabilitation of old and construction of new irrigation schemes to ensure year-round food production.

Among these will be the Zambezi (60 000ha), Save (50 000ha), Mutirikwi Mukorsi (25 000ha), Tuli/Shashe/Limpopo (20 000ha), Sanyati/Manayame (40 000ha) and Mazowe (10 000 ha) systems.

Thereafter, there will also be a long-term irrigation development project spanning over 20 to 30 years. — Herald Reporter-Bulawayo Bureau