Source: Tugwi-Mukosi water irrigates 25 000ha sugar cane – herald
George Maponga in Mwenezi
The full utilisation of Tugwi-Mukosi Dam for irrigation in the Lowveld has officially started on 25 000 hectares at Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi.
This project aims to establish sugar cane and citrus plantations that will boost agricultural production.
The Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ), which manages the nearly 390 000-hectare Nuanetsi Ranch, has partnered with seven local private investors to transform virgin land into productive agricultural fields.
The planting of sugar cane on the cleared land is set to begin on July 7, marking a critical step in the phased development of the area.
The joint venture will also lead to the installation of a sugar mill and a fruit canning factory, which will allow for the value addition of citrus before exporting to niche markets, such as China, thereby earning the country much-needed foreign currency.
The collaboration between DTZ and the private investors — Lyonais Enterprises, Byword Investments, Mossfield Farms, GreenCorridors, Honzero Agro Projects, Zimbrands and Lamcent Agriculture — is expected to catalyse a major agricultural revolution in Masvingo.
The province is targeting an $8 billion gross domestic product by the year 2030.
This ongoing irrigation initiative, part of the Lowveld Integrated Irrigation Master Plan, aims to fully exploit Masvingo’s vast irrigation potential, creating a greenbelt spanning over 200 000 hectares across the Lowveld. The project is set to create thousands of full-time and contract jobs for locals in Mwenezi and Chiredzi.
Deputy Chief Secretary Engineer Amos Marawa, the National Coordinator for Flagship Programmes and Projects in the Office of the President and Cabinet, attended a DTZ investor conference where updates on irrigation development were presented. He expressed the Government satisfaction with the progress being made.
“We are pleased with the developments and the ongoing preparations for the irrigation project,” Engineer Marawa stated. “The Government is committed to transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy by 2030.”
Eng Marawa also highlighted the importance of integrating local communities into the benefits of the irrigation developments at Nuanetsi.
Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, permanent secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, said initiatives at Nuanetsi are a vital step toward maximising the province’s abundant water resources.
“We boast about having 52 percent of all the dammed water in the province, including the country’s largest inland dam, Tugwi-Mukosi,” he noted. “Our goal is to fully utilise these resources to enhance food security.”
The start of sugar cane planting on July 7 is anticipated as a significant milestone in the provincial economic development plan, which aims to make agriculture the leading contributor to the GDP of Masvingo.
DTZ general manager Mr Emmanuel Jaricha called Nuanetsi Ranch the company’s flagship project and credited President Mnangagwa for his visionary leadership, which has enabled a focus on productivity for the benefit of all Zimbabweans.
“The President recognised the potential of Masvingo and the need to improve food security,” Mr Jaricha said, revealing that 60 percent of Nuanetsi Ranch is irrigable using Tugwi-Mukosi Dam water.
Lyonais Enterprises director Mr Lawrence Mahakwa praised the President for allowing young Zimbabweans to acquire land for irrigation development. His firm is aiming to complete irrigation on 1 650 hectares dedicated to sugar cane and citrus soon.
The establishment of a sugar mill is also planned to challenge existing monopolies in the industry, promising to benefit hundreds of farmers in the Lowveld and bolster the region’s agricultural productivity.
The development at Nuanetsi Ranch marks a transformative step for the agricultural landscape of Masvingo, leveraging the resources of Tugwi-Mukosi to foster a sustainable and prosperous future.
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