(ZIMPAPERS) Oasis in the heart of Mberengwa

Oasis in the heart of Mberengwa
Saturday, 10 September 2011 23:36 Agriculture
By Emilia Zindi recently in Mberengwa

MBERENGWA district is a drought-prone area. In previous dry seasons, when temperatures soared and the land was parched, animals and villagers alike panted for water, hoping every drop they found would sustain them for another day.

But December 2010 changed this story of despair. Like industrious ants labouring for a common cause, 35 families under Chief Maziwofa’s realm teamed up to construct a dam. Today, the area is indeed an oasis in the heart of dryness as the villagers now harvest fresh produce from a thriving irrigation scheme.

“This area is prone to drought. As you can see, the rivers are all dry,” said Mr Misheck Maidza, a beneficiary.

“The situation was desperate, but life has changed since the construction of the dam.”

The Musuki Irrigation Scheme covers an area of 10 hectares. The villagers came together to clear a bushy area where they constructed the dam with the assistance of a non-governmental organisation.

There is no trace of the drought of previous seasons. The wide variety of crops grown at the scheme bears testimony to the community’s sheer determination to change its dire circumstances.

From a position of disadvantage, the villagers are now empowered and are able to pay their children’s school fees, purchase household goods and provide for their respective families.

Mr Tendai Machokoto said: “We spend the whole day working here. We only go home after all the work is done.”

Each family has 60 beds on the plot where different crops such as tomatoes, cabbages, onions, and maize are grown.

Individuals are free to sell their produce and pocket the money, but when there is an outbreak of a disease, the villagers pool their resources.

“Under such circumstances, we contribute money to buy the chemicals so that the whole area is sprayed to prevent the spread of the disease,’’ said another beneficiary, Mrs Toendepi Kazunga.

The scheme is unique, as it is not powered by electricity. The dam was constructed on a gradient to allow the free flow of water into canals that feed into the nearby gardens.

A non-governmental organisation chipped in with resources such as cement for the construction of the canals and toilets.

The system allows water to flow from the dam down into the canals.

Interestingly, the villagers have not bothered to use artificial fertiliser as they depend on organic manure from their livestock. The manure is ferried in scotchcarts from their homes, about nine kilometres away.

With the help of local agronomists who visit them weekly, crop rotation has become their number one priority. This method helps them achieve high yields per hectare.

Green maize, which they expect to start selling in November, grows rapidly.
An agronomist who is assisting them, Mr Elliot Makunike, said Mberengwa district was synonymous with hunger owing to low rainfall.

He said it was, however, possible to start success-ful farming ventures, courtesy of the irrigation scheme.

“We have shown those who do not live here that the area can be turned into a ‘green yard’ all-year-round if water is available,’’ he said.

He called on the responsible authorities to replicate the model in other areas.

“This is a unique scheme. We do not use electricity for sprinklers or pumps.’’