The programme was officially launched on 27 January by the MEC for Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe at the Zanyokwe Irrigation Scheme (ZIS) in Keiskammahoek.
Initially, the intervention will support vegetable, grain, and fodder production, covering 1 528ha across the Eastern Cape, and provide farmers with equipment and machinery. The Department of Agriculture’s (DoA) long-term objective is to revitalise 10 000ha of irrigation schemes across district municipalities in the province.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Kontsiwe said the core aim of the initiative was poverty alleviation.
“The purpose behind everything we are doing here is to fight poverty in the Eastern Cape. We have taken a decision as the provincial government to revive the irrigation schemes in the province, and [ZIS] is one of them,” she said.
“We want to fight poverty, we want to create job opportunities, and introduce new skills of working the land. We also want to boost the economy of the province and the economy of the actual farmers.”
Kontsiwe said the DoA is confident the goal of revitalising 10 000ha can be achieved.
“It is realistic in the sense that we have seen the outputs of [other people] that have been working. Here at Zanyokwe, they have already reached the market space; they are even selling their produce beyond the province and the country.
“With dedication, commitment, and the support we get from other departments, as well as partnerships with the private sector, we believe we are going to realise this objective,” she said.
Farmers welcome infrastructure support
ZIS board chairperson Dr Litha Matiwane, speaking on behalf of irrigation scheme farmers across the province, said in a statement that he welcomed government’s renewed investment in irrigation infrastructure.
He said government support included centre pivots, sprinkler irrigation systems, tractors, and other implements, which had significantly improved production capacity at irrigation schemes.
Matiwane added that the strengthening of ZIS through the revitalisation programme had already yielded tangible results, including the repair of the scheme’s potato washer, which is now fully operational.
Looking ahead, he said ZIS was planning to expand its production footprint, with a focus on higher-value crops: “We want to grow and expand into citrus production on 300ha of land, and we already have water rights for that.”
District allocations and implementation
According to the DoA, the irrigation revival programme is expected to increase agricultural productivity and food supply, improve farmers’ knowledge and skills in sustainable farming practices, and strengthen collaboration within rural communities.
In terms of district allocations, R5 million will go towards developing 613ha in the Amathole District Municipality, R6 million will support the development of 700ha in the Chris Hani District Municipality, and R3,5 million will see 215ha developed in the OR Tambo District Municipality.
The DoA’s implementing agency, the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency, has been allocated R5 million to support the commercialisation of production, market organisation, the introduction of new production technologies, technical support, and access to production finance facilities.
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