THE government has revealed that owing to climate change, it is ramping up efforts to safeguard the country’s extensive network of 9 000 small earth dams and weirs, as it prepares for a bumper harvest.
The last agricultural season saw the country experience and El Niño-induced drought which resulted in low to below average rainfall.
Consequently, crop output was significantly lower, forcing the government to scale up existing irrigation systems to ensure water availability for the current 2024/25 agricultural season.
These efforts include ramping up and fortifying the small dam infrastructure.
“Zimbabwe is ramping up efforts to safeguard its extensive network of about 9 000 small earth dams and weirs, critical lifelines for communities, particularly in arid regions where seasonal streams dictate the rhythm of life,” the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry said in a statement.
“Strategically scattered across the landscape, these reservoirs capture fleeting floodwaters, sustaining livestock, supplying domestic water and supporting small-scale irrigation.
“Yet, these vital structures stand at a crossroads, increasingly vulnerable to climate change-induced breaches and relentless siltation, threats that jeopardise the very communities they sustain.”
According to the ministry, its Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation, and Farm Infrastructure Development plays a pivotal role in overseeing the full spectrum of dam management.
- ZRBF rescues hunger-prone communities
- Govt ramps up dam fortifications, prepares for bumper harvest
Keep Reading
The ministry’s deputy director engineer Herbert Gutu, heading the portfolio of Soil Engineering and Conservation, reiterated the urgent need for enhanced maintenance and a deep-rooted sense of community stewardship to safeguard water resources.
“He revealed that the department boasts a team of highly skilled engineers, whose expertise spans site selection, meticulous design, construction oversight, and comprehensive catchment area assessments aimed at mitigating erosion and siltation,” the ministry said.
“With climate change exacerbating water scarcity, Engineer Gutu underscored that these water-harvesting structures are now more essential than ever, strengthening rural livelihoods and bolstering economic resilience.
“However, he warned that neglect and inadequate upkeep have left many dams in jeopardy.”
To address this, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation, and Farm Infrastructure Development is spearheading the establishment of dedicated dam maintenance committees, composed of beneficiaries and key stakeholders, with support from technical institutions.
These committees, Gutu explained, will undergo rigorous training.
Earlier this week, the government launched Phase 2 of the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) to strengthen food security.
This was announced through a strategic alliance the government has with United Nations Development Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
The ZRBF Phase 2 is poised to champion sustainable natural resource stewardship, decisive climate action, fortified food and nutrition security, and enhanced disaster risk governance across seven high-priority districts.
These districts are Binga, Kariba, Mbire, Hurungwe, Mwenezi, Chiredzi and Beitbridge.
However, with better rains expected for the current season owing to a La Niña weather phenomenon the government is moving to prepare for what it hopes will be a bumper harvest.
“Zimbabwe stands at the brink of a momentous summer crop harvest, prompting the government to escalate its mechanised harvesting capabilities,” the ministry said.
“Engineer Harrison Basikoro, deputy director in the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Farm Infrastructure Development, affirmed the nation’s state of preparedness, underscoring a remarkable enhancement in the availability of combine harvesters.”
Basikoro disclosed that the country commands a fleet of 313 combine harvesters, with an additional 80 units amid shipment from Belarus under the third phase of the Belarus facility.
“Thirty of these combines are expected into the country before the end of this month. This strategic expansion will elevate the national fleet to nearly 400, markedly amplifying Zimbabwe’s harvesting capacity,” the ministry said.
“With this fortified arsenal, the nation is poised to harvest no less than 5 000 hectares (ha) per day, culminating in an estimated 750 000ha over a meticulously structured 150-day harvesting window.”
Beyond the domain of combine harvesting, Basikoro reiterated that both governmental and private sector entities were fully equipped to provide shelling and threshing services.
He further urged farmers to coordinate with their local Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation, and Farm Infrastructure Development offices to secure these critical resources.
Acknowledging the national demand of more than 600 combine harvesters, the government remains resolute in its mission to bridge this gap by end of 2026 under various public and private initiatives.
