Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has emphasised the urgent need for substantial investments in irrigation development to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on the nation. Speaking at an irrigation investment conference in the capital, Harare, on Friday, President Mnangagwa outlined a vision for transforming Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector through modernisation and mechanisation.
“With further investments in irrigation development, agriculture modernisation, and mechanisation, Zimbabwe can realise win-win benefits that guarantee food security at both household and national levels,” Mnangagwa stated. He invited investments and partnerships aimed at expanding irrigable land around newly constructed dams to facilitate the cultivation of cereals, high-value crops, and pastures.
The President highlighted the potential for sustainable partnerships as the country endeavours to reach its irrigation capacity of 2 million hectares. This call comes as Zimbabwe grapples with the effects of an El Niño-induced drought that has rendered 60 percent of the population food insecure and in urgent need of food assistance.
Mnangagwa stressed that enhancing irrigation around the country’s numerous high-impact dams could yield multiple benefits, including increased irrigable land, enhanced food security, and the growth of agro-based industries.
The Zimbabwean government has launched the Accelerated Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Plan for 2021-2025, targeting the development of 350,000 hectares of irrigated land by 2025. This initiative forms a crucial part of the country’s broader strategy to bolster agricultural productivity and resilience against climatic challenges.
