Irrigation expansion nears completion

Beitbridge Bureau Chief Work on the expansion of the River Ranch Irrigation Scheme in Beitbridge’s Ward 6 is nearing completion following a cash injection by Government. Councillor Joseph Itani Muleya on Tuesday said most of the equipment — including irrigation pipes, fencing and cement — had been bought. The project is being expanded from 10 hectares to 41,5 and will accommodate 80 plot holders. River Ranch Irrigation Scheme was established in the early 1970s and is owned by the community and run by Government through the Beitbridge Rural District Council. Clr Muleya said two blocks had been completed to accommodate 40 plot holders on the new extension and original project. Construction of a water reservoir and laying of pipes on 30ha are complete and engineers are working on fencing 1,5ha. A new pump has been mounted and draws water from Umzingwane River. "The plot holders are working with officials from the departments of Irrigation and Agriculture Extension in the project. "We hope that by the end of the farming season the project will be functioning to capacity," he said. Clr Muleya said maize and wheat were the major crops on the scheme and farmers would this year venture into horticulture. He said plans were afoot to erect an electric fence to protect crops from wildlife. The expansion started in September 2006 but was progressing at a snail’s pace due to an acute shortage of resources. An extension officer said the irrigation scheme was being funded through the Smallholder Micro-irrigation Develop-ment Support Programme, which is a bilateral agreement between the Euro-pean Commission and Government. The EC has contributed 125 000 euro so far while Government and the farmers should contribute 25 percent of the money needed to capacitate irrigation schemes in the province. It was not immediately clear how much money has gone into the River Ranch scheme. Published by the Herald 18 November 2010 www.herald.co.za