eBusiness Weekly
Business Weekly Writer
Government has taken over management of communal irrigation schemes to scale up maize production as it seeks to mitigate the effects of droughts, Davies Marapira, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement said.
The government will also increase production of winter maize and small grains to ensure food security.
Zimbabwe’s Meteorological Department Services, has already predicted the country would receive normal rains with a bias towards below normal in 2018/19 season.
Marapira told Business Weekly on Wednesday that enhancing grain production would boost national strategic reserves as buffer for future shortfalls given that the yields for next season might be affected by El Nino induced drought.
Farmers in the communal areas under irrigation schemes would be supported by inputs while the government would deploy agronomists to manage the programme.
Like the arrangement under Command Agriculture, a portion of the produce would go towards the repayment of the inputs while farmers would retain the remainder.
“We are looking at plus or minus 30 000 hectares of land under communal irrigation schemes that will be under government management,” Marapira said.
“This would go a long way in insulating ourselves from the impact of the droughts.
“We are also looking at enhancing winter maize particularly in the Lowveld while promoting production of small grains.
No need to panic
While Zimbabwe might be hard hit by the El Nino induced drought next season, Marapira ruled out shortages or imports as the nation had enough strategic grain stockpile.
Zimbabwe requires at least 1,8 million tonnes of grain per year and the current stocks are just above one million tonnes. Deliveries to the state-owned Grain Marketing Board for this year have reached 750 000 tonnes.
A strategic grain reserve usually involves the government buying grain and taking responsibility for their storage until they are needed to make up for shortfalls.
But communal farmers also keep their strategic grains, which usually takes them to next season.
“People with irrigation will contribute quite substantial to strategic grain reserves for next years. As Government, we are focusing on irrigation development,” Marapira said.
Zimbabwe is already working on a comprehensive agriculture policy framework, which will prioritise the rehabilitation of irrigation facilities and development of new projects.
According to analysts, the devastating effects of climate change being faced by the country required priority be accorded to enhance climate resilience and mitigation programmes in all climate sensitive areas. Zimbabwe has more than 10 000 water reservoirs, with major dams in the Lowveld or Highveld where suitable site are found.
While researchers have found out that not all El Nino year would result in drought, the Met Department has projected this year’s condition might leave Zimbabwe with a 40 percent of good rains.
