Small holder farmers set for better yields with US...

Small holder farmers set for better yields with US$45m set aside for small earth dams

Zim now Writer

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Dr John Basera, said in an effort to address challenges faced by smallholder farmers, Treasury has set aside US$45 million for the construction of 40 small earth dams across the country in 2023.

This comes as government is constructing 12 major dams across the country, some of which have already been commissioned.

Small earth dams are water bodies designed to make smallholder farming viable, and complement large dams while 23 small earth dams have been completed for use in the 2022-2023 summer cropping season.

The programme is expected to boost the national water harvesting capacity.

“Water harvesting is key in agriculture. We cannot talk of the sector without water and with the global warming being faced worldwide, we need to adjust with counter measures that will keep our sector alive,” said Dr Basera.

Chief director in the same ministry, who is responsible for agricultural engineering, mechanisation and soil conservation, Engineer Edwin Zimunga, said this year’s programme benefitted least 398 smallholder family households.

“Such dams are suitable for supplying water to irrigation schemes, for rural and other water supplies (when properly treated) and for conservation measures. Going into 2023, the target for small earth dams is 40.”

Engineer Zimunga said there are plans for a massive campaign to educate farmers on climate change and the importance of building small earth dams.

He added that their mandate is to ensure that farmers get relief from the erratic rains that have characterised the country’s farming seasons.