Establishing an Irrigation scheme through harnessing an aquifer borehole for sustainable livelihoods. 

By Grand Mutondo

In 2007 Africa 2000 Network was awarded a contract by the Delegation of the European Union to Zimbabwe to develop an irrigation scheme.  This project aimed at irrigation scheme in Takunda A village of Ward 23 in Chipinge district aimed at improving food production at communal level and enhancing food security.   The project also included value adding of the agricultural produces through agro-processing, and other subsequent processes like capacity building and awareness campaigns in numerous disciplines including the environmental issues and HIV/AIDS.   

                                                          

The project developed a total of 5ha which benefited 45 households of the estimated population of 698.  Child-headed families, orphans and vulnerable children, female-headed households, people living with HIV/AIDS and the poorest of the poor households are the target beneficiaries. It also aims to develop and maintain an ecologically sound ecosystem by practising sustainable agriculture systems like organic farming which will ensure a constant and reliable supply of food.

The project took into account the issue of development in relation to HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has far reaching consequences to the household food security, which should not be overlooked; hence it’s imperative mainstreaming and integrating HIV/AIDS issues in this food security endeavours.  Publications material in local language were obtained from SAFAIDS and distributed to the community.

The major activities that were carried out carried out under this project included the upgrading of an aquifer borehole by upgrading with irrigation equipment and preparing the land for cultivation and the fencing of the site. The cultivation of a variety of food crops for example, vegetables i.e. onions cabbages, rape, peas, and beans, maize, sorghum, groundnuts, groundnuts, and tomatoes, among others help obtain a balanced diet, as access to diverse agricultural produce would have been increased.  The farmers obtained their first harvest in December 2011 with irrigation beneficiaries managing to harvest crops in the dry region at the begging of the rainy season.  The farmers are expected to continue farming during the dry season of 2012 without waiting for the rainy season.