HARARE, Aug. 1 (NewsDay Live) – The Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand Zimbabwe's irrigated land to 496,000 hectares by 2030 as part of efforts to strengthen food security, increase grain production and build a climate-resilient agricultural sector.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Anxious Masuka said irrigation development remains central to Zimbabwe's agricultural transformation, with Government scaling up investments in state-owned estates, community irrigation schemes and private farming partnerships.
He said the national irrigation expansion programme forms part of the country's broader strategy to reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture and ensure year-round food production.
Masuka said the Government aims to expand Zimbabwe's irrigated land to 496,000 hectares by 2030, a target expected to strengthen climate resilience, boost agricultural productivity and secure the country's long-term food security.
As part of the strategy, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is expected to increase irrigated land across its estates from 2,500 hectares cultivated during the past season to 25,000 hectares by 2030.
"This past season, 2,500 hectares was put on ARDA estates, the 24 or so estates, and we hope that by 2030 they will be able to do 25,000 hectares all irrigated," Masuka said.
Beyond ARDA estates, Masuka said Zimbabwe has 460 irrigation schemes covering about 26,000 hectares, with 341 currently operational. These schemes have been reorganised into business units under the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model to improve efficiency, productivity and accountability.
He said the operational schemes are producing crops on between 13,000 and 19,000 hectares under contractual arrangements, with grain deliveries contributing to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
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Masuka said Government's irrigation drive also includes partnerships with communal, A1 and A2 farmers through joint venture arrangements aimed at expanding production beyond state-owned farms.
"But ARDA also goes further and contracts directly with farmers, communal A1 and A2, under a joint venture framework. So this delivery, although denoted ARDA, represents many sectors and many farmers," he said.
Government says expanding irrigation is critical to reducing the impact of climate change and erratic rainfall while ensuring stable agricultural production throughout the year.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, rising grain deliveries are helping replenish the Strategic Grain Reserve, improve national food availability, reduce dependence on imports, support rural livelihoods and guarantee a reliable supply of grain for millers and industry.
The irrigation expansion programme forms part of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which seeks to create a productive, resilient and food-secure agricultural sector while supporting Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 economic transformation agenda.
