Government has commercialised 368 of Zimbabwe’s 460 irrigation schemes as part of its Vision 2030 Accelerator Model, with all schemes expected to be transformed into viable and profitable agribusiness enterprises by year-end.
Speaking during the commissioning of the 30-hectare Wanezi Irrigation Scheme in Insiza District, the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka, said all irrigation schemes are expected to be transformed into viable, profitable and sustainable agribusiness enterprises by the end of the year.
Dr Masuka said the commercialisation drive is part of Government’s broader strategy to ensure food security, increase rural incomes and strengthen agricultural productivity through modernised irrigation infrastructure and private sector participation.
He said the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model was already yielding positive results, with hundreds of schemes now operating under structured management systems that promote efficiency, accountability and market-oriented production.
“The goal is to ensure that every irrigation scheme becomes a fully functional agribusiness unit that contributes meaningfully to national food security and rural development,” he said.
Dr Masuka added that Government was committed to rehabilitating and expanding irrigation infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change, which has increasingly affected rain-fed agriculture.
“Government is committed to rehabilitating and expanding irrigation infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change, which has increasingly affected rain-fed agriculture,” he said.
He commended farmers in Insiza for embracing the programme and urged them to maximise production at the newly commissioned Wanezi Irrigation Scheme, which is expected to boost horticultural output and improve livelihoods in the district.
The Minister said similar projects across the country were being supported with training, technical assistance and access to markets to ensure long-term sustainability.
With less than 100 irrigation schemes remaining to be commercialised, Government says the initiative is expected to accelerate the transition to climate-smart agriculture, boost food production and rural incomes, and position irrigation as a key pillar in achieving national food security and Vision 2030 targets.
