“ALONE we can do so little; together we can do so much,” Helen Keller an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer once said.
The same can be said about villagers in Mwenezi, who, after being victims of the El Niño-induced drought last year, realised that they could not do much individually, came together and “donated” their farm land to form an inclusive 156 hectare irrigation scheme.
Pikinini Jawanda Irrigation Scheme has become a marvel of the village as there is a promise of a bumper harvest in its first year of operation.
Unlike last year, this farming season, the heavens were bountiful, giving the much-needed hope to the enthusiastic villagers.
During a recent visit to the irrigation scheme, the villagers could not hide their joy over what was before them — a very productive farmland.
For decades, the land had been lying idle and it took the villagers quite some time to develop it into a productive vast piece of land.
“We face challenges of fertilisers, among other inputs. We would be grateful to have our own tractor meant for the scheme so that we are into a full-fledged operation,” said Pikinini Jawanda vice-secretary Ntombizodwa Moyo.
“God willing, we foresee massive outputs from this project. We are hopeful of an improved livelihood, no more hunger challenges, it will also reduce gender-based violence cases as we will be earning something to live on at our homes.”
She added: “During the drought period, things were difficult for us as we had an added burden of preparing our land as well as to ensure things at home were in order.
“This project has taken our maximum efforts and we are happy we are starting to see the light in all this. Our first crop survived challenges and is growing well.”
The current state of the scheme speaks of a well-co-ordinated and unified system from the ambitious and hopeful villagers who see the project as a turning point in their lives.
Pikinini Village head Jerina Gumbo said it was their hope that the irrigation scheme would aid in reducing hunger and poverty in their village.
“We were taught the correct ways of farming the various crops on a large scale and we are certain we will achieve our goal.”
“It is our hope that we get the necessary farming machinery so as to work on large scale production.”
She added: “This project is especially beneficial to women who are no longer solely relying on their husbands for survival but also playing a part.”
Gumbo said the field was a collective donation by people from her village who also did most of the clearing and land preparation.
The scheme incorporates Sustainable Development Goals number 1 and 2 which speak of no poverty and zero hunger, respectively.
In ensuring that the villagers earn money from proceeds of their harvest, the challenge of poverty is addressed by virtue of the fact that they get to share portions for their own food security, hence the zero hunger aspect is settled.
Also speaking during the same tour of the scheme, Pikinini Jawanda Irrigation Scheme chairperson Shava Chizivano expressed gratitude to the government and development partners, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), who chipped in to assist them during their time of need.
“We have encountered a lot of challenges since we started the project. We were having challenges with inputs also but that has been sorted as you can see we have done some improvements,” he said.
“Besides maize we are focusing on growing beans, paprika and wheat. Irrigation has helped us since we are working as a group.
“This place was initially grazing land but through our collective efforts we have managed to achieve what we have so far.”
The scheme comprises 300 small-scale farmers from Pikinini village.
On irrigation, they were assisted by government, UNDP under GCF.
Mwenezi district is among areas that were severely affected by drought last year, leaving more than 270 000 people in need of food.
Located in ecological regions 4 and 5, the area receives very low rainfall, usually around 400mm per rainy season.
Over 150km away, in the same province (Masvingo) and under the same funding for irrigation, a similar model is being implemented, with villagers in Bwanya area joining their farmland to create a vast farming area to benefit them in their numbers.
Located in Chivi, Bwanya village has had a fair share of climate-related challenges such that the idea of collectively farming with assistance on irrigation equipment and other inputs from Government, UNDP and GCF during the drought came as a relief to the villagers who have had to rely on food aid for survival in the past.
Like many regions in the country, the villagers experienced the devastating effects of the El Niño-induced drought, which left them frantically looking for long-term solutions.
The idea of an irrigation scheme came into effect and with assistance, developed to the stage they are at now — waiting for electricity connection for irrigation.
Masvingo provincial crop specialist Tsikai Mudavanhu told journalists on a tour of United Nations projects towards the end of last year that the progress which had been achieved so far at the irrigation scheme was encouraging.
“This project started in 2021 and we expected it to have been complete by the end of November (last year),” Mudavanhu said.
“Had it not been for issues to do with electricity it should have started.
“In this area, their farming was mainly rain-fed and their harvests were not that much because this area normally receives low rainfall.”
Speaking on behalf of the traditional leaders in the area, Chief Madamombe, reiterated the importance of building resilience among communities.
“This area is dry, so for people to get good harvests, they need enough rains,” he said.
“Every year, we grow small grains, but barely get enough food.
“Government realised this and they came to us working closely with partners and to assist us with this irrigation scheme.
“We are thankful for this because this irrigation is important for the people to become self-sufficient.”
The scheme is in line with SDG 13, which calls for climate action.
Bwanya Irrigation Scheme, a flagship project under the GCF-supported initiative, is nearing completion, promising a new era of climate-resilient agriculture for many households in Chivi district.
It is one of 21 smallholder irrigation schemes being revitalised under a US$47,8 million project, jointly funded by the government and GCF.
