Zimbabwe to roll out irrigation pumps on farms against El-Nino
The government will supply pumps to every farm with irrigation facilities, a move Agriculture Minister Auxious Masuka tied to the President's rural tractor programme.
Zimbabwe's government plans to roll out irrigation pumps on all farms with irrigation facilities across the country. The aim is to boost food production ahead of the predicted El-Nino weather phenomenon.
Agriculture, Mechanisation, Water Resources minister Auxious Masuka announced the plan in response to questions in Parliament on Wednesday. He said the programme was initiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and will target farms with water and irrigation infrastructure.
Masuka said the pump rollout follows the tractor programme the President started in rural areas.
Why it mattersFarms that already have irrigation infrastructure are the ones set to receive pumps, so their output is expected to hold up if El-Nino dry weather arrives.