More farmers turn to solar irrigation
THE use of solar-powered borehole pumps and fast maturing high-value crops has become a model for many horticulture farmers in Beitbridge.
They have also embraced water harvesting and drip irrigation to increase production on their farms.
Drip irrigation saves water and nutrients by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either from above or below the soil surface, with little lost to evaporation or run-off.
Under this type of irrigation, water is placed directly into the root zone of the plant to minimise evaporation.
In previous years, farmers relied on electricity from the national grid or diesel pumps for irrigation and used canals, sprinklers or flood irrigation to water crops.
However, many farmers have moved to solar-powered irrigation pumps, which seems durable and are easy to set up. While there is a higher capital outlay, although the margins are narrowing fast, the set up costs for solar systems vary based on brand and quality or equipment and source.
While solar panels do not work at night, this is not a major concern with irrigation. Water can be pumped into tanks and reservoirs when the sun shines and so 24/7 supplies are assured.
Government and its partners are also building the operational capacity at nine irrigation schemes in the Beitbridge district and promoting the use of solar to power irrigation pumps.
In an interview, Head of Agriculture Extensions Services in Beitbridge, Mr Masauso Mawocha, said they had witnessed a shift from grid electricity to solar on most projects in the last few years.
“We have seen a lot of communal farmers taking advantage of the abundance of sunlight in this region and they are migrating to solar as an alternative to drive agriculture-related projects,” said Mr Mawocha.
“If properly installed, a solar equipment is easy to maintain and the biggest such plant we have is at the revamped Tshikwalakwala irrigation scheme.
“The project’s boreholes are powered by solar to ensure there is a constant supply of water. This is the same situation at most smallscale nutritional gardens across the district.”
Mr Mawocha said the use of solar had seen many piped water schemes coming out in the rural part of Beitbridge.
Under the Strong Women Strong World programme, at least 94 women had benefited from the use of solar for their piped water schemes and nutritional gardens.
He said they were growing high value crops such as chilli, okra, potatoes, cabbage and green mealies.
“Solar powered boreholes are easy to set up and we have the Gandakasame, Limpopo Country Garden, Mbuyedzo Youth Project and Maita Zwitoma in Beitbridge East, which have become good models for other communal farmers,” said Mr Mawocha.
“The farmers in these areas are doing well with the aid of drip irrigation systems and producing fresh vegetables for the local market.”
The Strong Women Strong World programme focuses on the empowerment of women and girls through intentionally integrating water, sanitation and hygiene with economic empowerment interventions.
It is inspired and catalysed through the vision and generosity of Ms Lani Dolifka and her foundation, Clean Water Here.
Through her catalytic US$12 million, threeyear gift, World Vision is implementing the Strong Women Strong World programme in key World Vision area programmes in four countries; Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
Agriculture experts say Beitbridge requires an average of 400mm of rain water for a successful farming season.
Beitbridge Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Peter Moyo, said they were upgrading boreholes from the use of manual pumps to solar.
“As part of our call to action plan, we want to address water supply issues in the district, and the council has set a target to have at least 240 community boreholes by 2028,” said Mr Moyo.
“In addition, we are introducing piped water schemes to bring potable water closer or at central points near households and rural service centres.
“The modernisation of boreholes will also ensure that communities venture into small horticulture projects that may improve their incomes at the household level.”
Mr Moyo said there are about 480 registered community boreholes in rural Beitbridge and they were targeting to upgrade them from the use of old pumps and power them with solar to increase water access and productivity in small horticulture projects.