Agriculture Reporter                      

The Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is set to launch a New Kumusha Agriculture Model in Mashonaland Central Province as a pilot irrigation project by Government. This is part of efforts to intensify programmes to ensure food security and financial empowerment in communal areas.

This initiative will see farmers being grouped for crop production and receiving assistance in the form of extension services, and utilities (power and water) towards the irrigation scheme.

An Agriculture Extension officer from Mashonaland Central Province who refused to be identified, said this irrigation project would be constructed along the banks of the Lilstock Dam in Bindura District.

“The Lilstock Dam project is targeting an initial 10 000 hectares of maize and wheat production, which will benefit both communal and A1 farmers.

The 10 000 hectares will be earmarked for all year round irrigation, while being managed by ARDA. The consolidated farms will be served by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and local authorities for the provision of road infrastructure,” he said.

In turn, farmers will be expected to get a share of the proceeds as the shareholders, while ARDA will get a management remuneration of up to 20%.

ARDA will further assist farmers in accessing loans from CBZ, and other Agricultural Finance institutions for the development of irrigation and agriculture infrastructural if need arises.

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement said if this pilot project is implemented successfully, it would be replicate the model in other provinces where water for irrigation is readily available, before being also adopted for A2 farmers.