Irrigation Scheme Brings Hope to Beitbridge West, Zimbabwe
The revival of the 57-hectare Jalukange Irrigation Scheme along Shashe River about 120km west of Beitbridge town has come as a major relief for smallholder farmers in this dry district. The district was in the grip of the worst drought in half a century with failed rain seasons, crop failures and livestock deaths.
Most farming families here have endured tough conditions with little food to eat, no access to portable water, health or income generating projects to improve their livelihoods following back-to-back droughts.
Most children had become severely malnourished as families could no longer feed themselves.
The scale of drought emergency is enormous and without the revival of the Jalukange Irrigation Scheme the impact would unfortunately get even worse.
Trocaire