GOVERNMENT’s dam construction drive is proving to be a masterstroke with communities around Muchekeranwa Dam in Marondera expanding hectarage through irrigation.
Before the completion of the dam, families in the surrounding areas relied on subsistence farming with the yields affected by inconsistent rainfall patterns.
Muchekeranwa Irrigation Scheme chairperson, Mr Vincent Tigere said, ‘‘It was difficult for us to grow any kind of crop in this area because of the inconsistent rain patterns and lack of knowledge of how to do it properly. Most of us did not harvest meaningful yields.’’
The fortunes have however changed for several households that benefited from the government’s irrigation development programme which saw the construction of the Muchekeranwa Dam.
Mr Tigere added, ‘‘Now things have changed because of the construction of the dam, we now expect good yields. So far, we have planted 45 hectares under irrigation but we are targeting 90 hectares. All this was made possible by President Emmerson Mnangagwa who facilitated the provision of pivots.’’
The project has brought in expertise from government institutions in line with the industrialisation drive.
A beneficiary, Mrs Netsai Chisodza noted, ‘‘We want to thank the President for what he has done for us. Our irrigation scheme is viable because he facilitated for us to get help from ARDA and MUAST. Now we getting expertise on how to properly do farming.’’
Another beneficiary, Mrs Evelyn Kundiri said, ‘‘Our lives have changed greatly. Now we can harvest better yields and we can even sell some of the products and make money.’’
The government is targeting to put 350 000 hectares under irrigation by 2025 backed by massive dam construction projects.
