BY SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO.
In a historic community milestone, Rubweruchena village in Ward 11 of Chivi District is sat to be officially commissioned on the 9th of October this year following the completion of a micro-irrigation scheme and borehole, a development set to revolutionise local farming activities and improve livelihoods in the region. The project, which is part of the $80.3 million Takunda initiative, is a community development program that was funded by USAID, CARE International, and its consortium of partners. The commissioning of the event is scheduled to be done by the U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela M. Tremont.
Rubweruchena, located 18km northeast of the Chivi growth center, lies in an area characterised by low rainfall, high temperatures, and sandy soils, making traditional farming methods challenging.
The Member of Parliament for Chivi North, Godfrey Mukungunugwa, reverenced by his legion of supporters in the constituency as: “Chibaba Chemvura,” following his robust support in several water pumping projects in the area, briefly provided a background on how the Takunda project started, indicating that it was started in response to the community priorities identified during a visioning exercise in June 2021. The project sought to address water scarcity for irrigation, domestic use, and livestock watering.
The Rubweruchena work commenced in March 2024, with the borehole being drilled and irrigation infrastructure established. By April 2024, production was underway, and by August, the scheme had reached full capacity. USAID Takunda is embarking on an initiative programme that is targeting to enhance food and nutrition security for over 321,000 Zimbabweans in Masvingo and Manicaland provinces. The US is apparently pleased by the significant cooperation emananting from the Government of Zimbabwe and local leadership particularly for their support in making the project a reality.
The micro-irrigation garden is managed by a group of 52 participants, comprising 14 men and 38 women, including 11 youths. The group grows a variety of crops, including covo, rape, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and citrus fruit trees. In addition to their agricultural activities, the participants are engaged in several other initiatives under Takunda, including Care Groups, Integrated Pest Management, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs, Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), the Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS), and gender equality programs.
Since production began, the garden has yielded impressive results, with harvests of 275kg in June, 320kg in July, and 497kg in August. The cumulative income from these yields reached $1,092, with each member receiving an average of $21.50.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira praised the initiative as a testament to the power of partnerships in fostering development. “Indeed we are honored by the kind gesture of the American people in assisting us in this time of need. We are all aware that His Excellency, the President, declared a State of National Disaster in March due to the El Nino induced drought which has hit us very hard. In our own standard it is the worst in 40 years. So if we get friends like the US, we say a friend in need is a friend indeed,” he said.
The Rubweruchena micro-irrigation scheme and borehole are expected to provide lasting benefits, improving food security, income generation, and overall quality of life for the community. As the Takunda project continues to roll out in Masvingo and Manicaland, more communities are expected to benefit from similar sustainable development initiatives.