Zimbabwe is accelerating plans to expand its irrigation capacity by 2030 as the Government seeks to strengthen food security, boost grain production and build a more climate-resilient agricultural sector.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Anxious Masuka said irrigation development is a key pillar of the country's agricultural transformation strategy, with increased investment being directed towards both state-owned estates and community irrigation schemes.
Masuka said the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) aims to increase irrigated land across its estates from 2,500 hectares cultivated during the last farming season to 25,000 hectares by 2030.
"Last season, 2,500 hectares were put under irrigation on ARDA's 24 or so estates, and by 2030 we expect that figure to rise to 25,000 hectares, all under irrigation," he said.
He added that Zimbabwe currently has 460 irrigation schemes covering approximately 26,000 hectares, of which 341 are operational. These schemes have been reorganised into business units under the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model to improve efficiency, productivity and accountability.
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According to Masuka, the operational irrigation schemes are producing crops on between 13,000 and 19,000 hectares through contract farming arrangements, with grain deliveries contributing to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
The minister said ARDA's irrigation programme extends beyond its estates through joint venture partnerships with communal, A1 and A2 farmers, broadening participation in commercial agricultural production.
"ARDA also contracts directly with communal, A1 and A2 farmers under a joint venture framework. So, although these deliveries are recorded under ARDA, they represent the contribution of many farmers across different sectors," he said.
Government views irrigation expansion as essential to reducing agriculture's vulnerability to climate change and erratic rainfall while enabling year-round production.
The Ministry of Agriculture says increased grain deliveries are helping rebuild the Strategic Grain Reserve, improve national food availability, reduce reliance on imports, support rural incomes and ensure a steady supply of grain for millers and industry.
The irrigation expansion programme is a key component of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which aims to develop a productive, resilient and food-secure agricultural sector in support of Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 economic transformation agenda.
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