Mutange Irrigation in impressive wheat crop

One of the government supported irrigation schemes in Gokwe South has declared impressive
wheat production figures with over 40 out of the planted 75 hectares having been already
harvested.

Established in 2017, and funded by the Government through PSIP Mutange Irrigation Scheme has
turned what resembled a desert into an oasis of hope.

With 134ha irrigable land, 75ha is under wheat production of which 40 hectares have already been
harvested as the scheme races against time before the onset of the rains. Midlands managed to put
over 10 000ha under wheat, surpassing the 9 000 ha target. Last year the province put 7 378ha and
harvested 49 238 tonnes.

Mutange Irrigation Scheme is an example of fruitful partnership between Government and AFC Bank
which assisted the scheme with an 81 Horse power Belarus tractor for tillage operations.
The AFC further approved a loan facility to assist the scheme on 122 hectares of commercial maize
for the 2023/2024 summer season.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube who visited the scheme recently
said government is committed to have enough combine harvesters in the province as Midlands had
surpassed its wheat targets for 2023.

“Irrigation development has been identified as the pillar for agricultural growth and recovery in the
face of devastating effects of climate change,” Minister Ncube said.
“Furthermore, irrigation development is an accelerator for uplifting the livelihoods of rural
communities in addition to boosting the agriculture production in drought prone areas in agro-
ecological regions 4 and 5 like Gokwe South,” he said.

Minister Ncube said Mutange Irrigation Scheme is a life changing initiative which supports the
import substitution strategy by Government as Zimbabwe is now wheat self- sufficient.
He said government’s thrust in rural modernisation and industrialisation had led to the rehabilitation
of Chemahororo Irrigation Scheme in Njelele 2, Gokwe South.

“The trust of agriculture under Vision 2030, is to restore Zimbabwe as the bread basket of Southern
Africa,” Minister Ncube said.

He also toured Neta Irrigation Scheme in Mberengwa, where he said the scheme had overcome
natural inadequate and unreliable rainfall in a dry region of Zimbabwe caused by climate change to
successfully grow wheat.

“This is the first-time wheat has been successfully grown in this dry and arid region and we give
credit to the New Dispensation for the bold and life changing initiative which supports the import
substitution strategy by Government,” said Minister Ncube.

The Neta irrigation in Buchwa has 60 hectares under wheat.
The Minister said the thrust of agriculture under vision 2030, is to restore Zimbabwe as the bread
basket of Southern Africa and urged farmers to embrace Agro-processing as part of the rural
transformation strategy.