Zimbabwe Targets 100 Dams To Drive Climate-Smart Irrigation

On the edge of Wanezi Dam, as new sprinklers hissed to life and water arched across once-dry soil, a quiet shift in Zimbabwean agriculture became visible. What used to be a seasonal gamble is slowly turning into all-year production – and Government now wants that story repeated at more than 100 dams across the country.

Government has identified over 100 dams for accelerated irrigation development, aiming to bring an additional 113 000 hectares under irrigation by 2030 as Zimbabwe steps up efforts to build climate-smart agriculture and strengthen national food security.

The irrigation drive sits at the heart of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2, and the Vision 2030 agenda, which seek to transform agriculture from rain-fed vulnerability to reliable, commercial production powered by water, technology, and organised markets.

Why Irrigation Is Now Non-Negotiable

Speaking during the commissioning of the Wanezi Dam and Irrigation Scheme, the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, said irrigation is now central to protecting Zimbabwean farmers from recurring droughts and climate change.

“We want to enhance climate-smart and climate-proof agriculture through accelerated irrigation development. The President has set an ambitious target of bringing 496 000 hectares under irrigation by 2030. We have about 258 000 hectares developed,” he said.

FFA Explainer:

Climate-smart agriculture refers to farming practices and technologies that increase productivity, make farms more resilient to climate shocks like droughts or floods, and reduce negative environmental impacts. In practice, it often combines irrigation, drought-tolerant crops, better soil management, and strong local institutions.

Government figures indicate that irrigated land has grown from 171 000 hectares in 2020 to 258 773 hectares by May this year – a 51 percent increase and, according to officials, the fastest rate of irrigation expansion since Independence. Yet climate shocks are also intensifying, which raises the stakes for turning every dam into a productive asset.

What The 100 Dams Plan Means On The Ground

The new push will focus on unlocking idle water stored in existing dams and turning each into a productive hub.

“We have identified more than 100 dams that will be prioritised to accelerate irrigation development on 113 000 hectares as we work towards achieving that target. We will be assessing these dams so that they become centres of agricultural production, value addition, employment creation and rural industrialisation,” said Dr Masuka.

This approach is rooted in Government’s “A Dam Is An Economy” strategy – an idea that every major water body should anchor a local economy built around irrigated crops, agro-processing, fisheries, and related services. To reach the Vision 2030 irrigation target of 496 000 hectares, Government estimates that a further 237 227 hectares still need to be developed at a cost of about US$1,66 billion.

The irrigation expansion, officials say, is expected to increase food production, create rural jobs, and help stabilise supplies of key crops such as maize, wheat, soya bean, and horticulture. It also fits directly into the goals of NDS2, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 on ending hunger.

Zimbabwe’s Irrigation Schemes: Potential Versus Reality

Across the country, there are 460 irrigation schemes with the potential to irrigate about 26 000 hectares. On paper, that is a strong platform for rural transformation. In reality, only about 19 000 hectares are currently under production.

Government officials attribute this gap to governance, management, and sustainability challenges – issues that have dogged many schemes for years. Poor maintenance, unclear ownership, weak farmer organisations, and limited access to markets have left some canals cracked, pumps idle, and centre pivots rusting.

To turn this around, Government is implementing what it calls the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model, a reform package that changes how irrigation schemes are structured and run.

FFA Explainer:

The Vision 2030 Accelerator Model is a Government approach that treats irrigation schemes as businesses, not just social projects. It involves registering schemes as companies, installing stronger management systems, and linking farmers to technical support, inputs, and markets so that schemes can become profitable and self-sustaining.

“So far, 368 irrigation schemes have been registered and our target is to have all 460 registered and converted into viable, profitable and sustainable business entities by the end of the year. We want beneficiaries to become business-minded,” said Dr Masuka.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is being brought in as a key partner in this transformation. ARDA managers are being deployed to irrigation schemes to strengthen governance and improve productivity, providing day-to-day oversight and technical guidance.

A Zimbabwean Scheme Shows What Is Possible

In Insiza District, Matabeleland South, farmers at Wanezi Irrigation Scheme are already seeing the difference that water, organisation, and clear market targets can make.

Before rehabilitation, production was limited and highly seasonal. Today, with new infrastructure and support, farmers are moving towards a more commercial mindset – planning for winter wheat, off-season maize, and high-value horticultural crops that supply surrounding towns.

A farmer at Wanezi, speaking on the sidelines of the commissioning, pointed to a line of healthy green maize along a concrete canal and said the scheme now gives families a chance to earn regular income instead of waiting for one risky harvest. Farmers in several provinces share this sentiment when irrigation works: it turns land into an asset that can pay school fees, support livestock projects, and fund small agro-processing ventures.

The experience mirrors successes seen at other revitalised schemes across the country, where clear contracts, better management, and shared equipment have helped farmers boost yields and stabilise their earnings.

US$120 Million For New And Old Schemes

To fund this shift, Government is rolling out a combined US$120 million irrigation investment programme. The package is aimed at three main areas:

• Expanding irrigated agriculture, especially around identified dams.
• Rehabilitating and modernising existing irrigation schemes.
• Strengthening long-term food security through more reliable production.

Details of all funding partners and facility terms have not been publicly broken down, but officials say the focus is on ensuring that schemes don’t just receive infrastructure, but also the management support and market linkages needed to keep them running for decades.

For smallholders, the potential benefits are clear: irrigation reduces dependence on erratic rains, opens opportunities for winter and off-season production, and supports entry into higher-value chains such as seed production, vegetables, and animal feed crops.

Why Region Four Farmers Are Being Asked To Shift Crops

While irrigation expansion is a central pillar of climate-smart agriculture, Dr Masuka also stressed that farmers must align their crops with their natural environments, especially in drier zones.

“In areas without irrigation, particularly region four, we discourage the production of maize. Farmers should focus on traditional grains because they are better suited to the prevailing climatic conditions,” he said.

Agro-ecological Region IV covers large parts of southern and western Zimbabwe, where rainfall is low and erratic. In these areas, crops such as sorghum, millet, cowpeas, and roundnuts generally perform better than maize under dryland conditions.

FFA Explainer:

Agro-ecological regions are zones defined by rainfall, soil type, and temperature. Zimbabwe has five main regions. Region I is the wettest and best suited to intensive cropping and plantations. Regions IV and V are the driest, making irrigation and drought-tolerant crops critical for stable harvests.

The call to shift to traditional grains without irrigation echoes long-standing advice from agronomists and climate experts, and aligns with national efforts to promote small grains as part of climate adaptation and nutrition strategies.

For many smallholders in Matabeleland South, Masvingo, and parts of Midlands, this means a mixed strategy: use irrigation to grow cash crops and food staples where water is available, and in dryland plots, rely on small grains that can survive heat and dry spells.

From Schemes To Businesses: The Governance Test

Transforming 460 irrigation schemes into profitable companies is ambitious. It requires more than paperwork. Farmers must agree on new governance structures, share responsibilities for maintenance, and engage with buyers who demand quality, consistency, and timely deliveries.

Under the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model, schemes are expected to operate like rural enterprises. That means:

• Clear shareholding and representation for plot holders.
• Professional management, often supported by ARDA or private partners.
• Transparent financial systems to handle input costs, sales, and profit sharing.
• Strong links to markets so produce does not rot at the farm gate.

This model is designed to reduce the stop-start pattern that has haunted many schemes, where infrastructure is installed with fanfare but collapses a few seasons later due to poor management and lack of support.

It also creates space for youth and women to play stronger roles in irrigation agriculture. With schemes registered as companies, there are new opportunities for young people to lead agronomy, marketing, or processing units, and for women to hold formal positions in boards and management teams.

FFA has previously profiled young agripreneurs who turned irrigated plots into thriving enterprises in areas such as Chiredzi sugarcane and Mutoko horticulture. The same energy and organisation will be needed at the newly targeted dams if the national vision is to hold.

What Success Would Look Like By 2030

If Government meets its target of 496 000 hectares under irrigation by 2030, Zimbabwe’s agricultural calendar will look very different from the old pattern of planting with the first rains and waiting nervously for the skies to open again.

All-year cropping would become more common around the major dams. Wheat in winter, maize and soya in summer, plus horticulture and seed production in between. Rural service centres could grow into small agro-industrial hubs, hosting millers, oil expressers, cold rooms, and packaging facilities.

More importantly, food supplies would be less vulnerable to poor seasons. Official projections suggest that the 237 227 hectares still to be developed could significantly boost national output if properly managed and supported. That would help cushion households against price spikes and shortages when droughts strike.

This is the vision behind the “A Dam Is An Economy” slogan: a country where every major water body anchors jobs, skills, and value chains, and where rural families do not watch water flow past their homesteads while they wait for rain.

The Road Ahead: From Targets To Tilled Fields

The numbers are big: more than 100 dams, US$120 million in investment, and nearly a quarter of a million additional hectares to be brought under irrigation at an estimated cost of US$1,66 billion.

The real test will be seen in places like Wanezi, Silalabuhwa, Siya, and other schemes where farmers walk the canals every day. If pumps run, canals are maintained, and farmers receive fair prices for their produce, the targets set in Harare will translate into fuller granaries and stronger rural economies.

As one farmer at Wanezi put it, watching the water glide past her field, the dam is no longer just a backdrop. It is the difference between guessing with the rain and planning for a harvest.

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About The Author

Editor at Large

Farm & Future Africa (FFA) was born from the realization that Zimbabwe’s profound agricultural resilience and innovation needed a clear, authoritative voice to connect with the continent and the world.

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