Govt’s 31% water charge reduction set to boost far...

Govt’s 31% water charge reduction set to boost farming productivity

Patience Muchemwa

The 31% water charges reduction announced by the government on Monday will benefit farmers through the spurring irrigation in the process boosting productivity, a farmers’ union executive has said.

This comes after Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious John Masuka announced in a statement that government was reducing water charges by 31% to facilitate irrigation on farms that to benefit agricultural productivity.

“The proposals reduce raw water charges for all categories of farmers by 31%. This should incentivise more farmers to commit more area under irrigation for the 2023/2024 summer season.

“Government hopes these interim relief measures will support the production of more grain during the 2023/2024 season.”

In an interview with Zim Now Zimbabwe Farmers Union Executive Director, Paul Zakariya said the water charges are a huge benefit to irrigators.

“This has a direct positive impact on irrigators’ cash flows and production budgets. Producers now can deploy their resources to other critical production areas, expand their operations and increase profitability.”

Zimbabwe expects to harvest 2.3 million tonnes of the staple maize grain this farming season, a 58% jump from the previous season at less than 2 million tonnes.