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Irrigation
Various types of irrigation techniques differ in how the water is obtained from the source distributed within the field.
Pro Africa has been using the gravity irrigation system since the beginning of its activities. All projects are using in one way or the other (drips, canals and surface) gravity irrigation - a system which cannot create technical and financial problems as water freely flows from reservoir to the plant. The technology used by Pro Africa has been used as far back as the 6th millennium BCE.
The definition of gravity irrigation is described as follows:
An irrigation system in which the water is not pumped but flows in ditches or pipes and is distributed by gravity.
It is efficient and available at many places in Matabeleland South and mostly built below a dam. The projects are operated by the communities without any problems. Pro Africa continues to support all projects since the implementation, wherever small problems might appear. Due to the service provided by Pro Africa the functionality of the irrigation is controlled and secured. Seed distribution, agriculture training, health workshops and capacity building in administrative, marketing and financial matters are provided as well.52 existing irrigation scales are operating meanwhile in Matabeleland, mainly in Matabeleland South. 7 new irrigation schemes will be implemented by 2013.
Of course, the irrigation schemes are cost effective as the system doesn’t need energy, complicated technical reparations and expensive spare parts. Reliable and continuous production is possible.
The Matabeleland Region has insufficient rainfall for dry land agriculture hence the intervention of Pro Africa addresses the problem of drought faced by the communities in some parts of the region. Small scale irrigation schemes have allowed the communities to diversify their cropping patterns as well as increasing the level of output from small pieces of land. These irrigation projects can also create some form of employment, leading to young people settling down in their areas, thus reducing rural to urban migration and immigration.
The irrigation schemes, owned by the communities are managed by sustainable Agriculture procedures. The reduction of chemical pesticides through eco-friendly bio pesticides and adopting biological and agronomic soil fertility improvement measures is foremost as well to reduce use of chemical fertilizers. Some of the irrigation schemes are working already strictly under the biological defined standard of the EC. Pro Africa is promoting the biological agriculture standards of ZOPPA.
Food security is not only about the quantity of food which is consumed; it is also about its quality and diversity. Small scale gravity irrigation gives the opportunity to diversify the diet.
Successful agriculture is dependent upon farmers having sufficient access to water. However, water scarcity is already a critical constraint to farming in many parts of the world. Physical water scarcity is where there is not enough water to meet all demands, including that needed for ecosystems to function effectively.Symptoms of physical water scarcity include environmental degradation and declining of groundwater is rising up. Pro Africa is looking into the aspects of environment protection. All new projects are linked with a component of environmental protection.
Not only the production and functionality of the scale are in foreground. Due to EIAs, which are undertaken in all new projects, the measures to protect environment (gully erosion, contour bunds and dam protection, de-silting and protection) are organized in close cooperation with the communities to assure production in an ecologically sound and economically viable way.
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