Nathi Masuku
SMALLHOLDER farmers in Fountain village, Nyamandlovu are feeling the effects of climate change, as the only dam in the area has dried up, putting a stop to all farming activities.
The dam, which was built by the community in 2000, was then a reliable source of water for both humans and livestock. During the rainy season, it filled to capacity and would last up to nine months.
More than 200 households benefited from the water source. But now the situation is different, water levels have dwindled.
High temperatures, coupled with low rainfall patterns over the year, has led to low water intake, subjecting farmers to challenges. The dam cannot hold water for over 5 months. Subsistence horticulture through irrigation is no longer possible. Cattle and goats now have to drink at the nearest water hole which is 10KM away.
In a visit to the area, The Zambezi Times crew was met with the dire sight of a patched open space, of what the dam has become.
David Ncube, the Fountain village head lamented the hardships they have had to endure since water levels at the dam dropped.
“When we settled here, this dam was a reliable source of water all year round but now water vanishes in May,” said Ncube.
“We are living in difficult times. Our market gardening projects collapsed. What we fear most is for the survival of our livestock.
He said the community has to rely on a borehole that was drilled by the District Development Fund (DDF)
“We were saved by the DDF after our area councillor appealed for help. We are grateful that at least for now we can fetch water nearby. What we are concerned about is how we can resuscitate this dam so that it stores more water like before,” he said.
One of the villagers, Lameck Ncube, told The Zambezi Times that while boreholes have been a welcome development, they still struggle to get their vegetable gardens going.
