By Ronny Zikhali

WHILE most people in the dry regions of Matabeleland are crying foul over the little rains, Bubi villagers, south of Bulawayo, have taken it to themselves to improve their plight by engaging into irrigation.
They say planting crops are irrigation was the most reliable and practical way of achieving better yields in areas where rains are unfavourable.
Most wards in Bubi District are characterized by irrigations schemes a sign that symbolizes the commitment by the villagers to improve food security in the province. Some of the schemes which were now functioning include Mpofana and Inkosikazi irrigation schemes
A recent visit to Bubi district showed that villagers were busy setting up irrigation schemes that were meant to provide food.
In ward 20 Dabengwa villagers were working towards the completion of a 60 hectare Hauke Irrigation scheme that has over 150 members.
According to the scheme Chairman, Mr David Mkandla the gesture was community oriented and it was supported by Government and World Vision a Non-governmental organisation.
Mr Mkandla expressed gratitude to the Government through the local authority and World Vision for supporting his area in their quest to beat poverty.
“As you are aware that our province is prone to law rainfall parttens that are normally inadequate for our crop production. Thus as members of the community we thought it wise that we come up with an irrigation scheme that will operate all round the year and also providing enough food for the community,” said Mr Mkandla.
The project is dominated mainly by widows and vulnerable households. The establishment of the scheme started years back untill World Vision came in to give support to the development work on the site by providing funding through its sponsorship budget.
The scheme consists of Hauke dam which is 3,2 kilometers away from the cite and digging of the trench for water pipes from dam to site was done by community members through commiting themselves to manually labour.
“There are always people working at the site during the week because we divided ourselves into five groups. I must say that our members are committed to see the fruits of the project,” said Mr Mkandla.
When this paper visited the site, villagers were busy some clearing the busy and others laying water pipes.
According to World Vision Area Development Programme Manager, Mr Chrispo Chikanda, said his organisation was only a partner to the community oriented programme.
“We were approached by villagers and our main role is to assist with resources and necessary equipments in partnership with the Government. World Vision has done its best to assist community based programmes that are directly beneficiary to the people,” he said.
Among the stake holders in the scheme is the department of Agritex which provides the supervisory role in the implementation process to provide technical expertise at every stage of process to ensure improved quality of work.
Members of the scheme who spoke to this paper said they were eager to improve themselves through the project that presented many opportunnities for the community and the entire district.
“We own this project and this is what propeled members to dedicate themselves into the it. The project will provide a long-term solution food security and nutritional security among the community and the district as a whole because when it is completed is expected to be functional all year round,” said Mr Philani Ncube.
Some members said irrigation was an answer to community poverty and problems arguing that when properly managed it had capacity to generate income for fees and and other domestic needs.
Another member who identified himself as Mr Izon Mhlanga said with irrigation communities are cin a position to beat poverty.
“In other wards where irrigation was strated early, some families are now better since they have managed to acquire wealth. Therefore this is a golden opportunity for us to uplift ourselves and stop being beggars all the time,” said Mr Mhlanga.
A variety of crops are expected to be grown once the scheme was complete and these include groundnuts, maize, millet, sugar beans and potatoes.