Venture Boreholes Highlights Key Planning Factors for Irrigation Farming in Zimbabwe

Reliable water is an important consideration for agricultural operations, particularly where irrigation is required to support crops throughout the year. Planning an irrigation borehole should begin before drilling, with farmers assessing their actual water requirements and the needs of the farming operation.

Important considerations include the size of the area to be irrigated, crop types, crop water requirements, irrigation methods, seasonal conditions, irrigation schedules and possible future expansion.

Groundwater conditions can vary between properties. For this reason, farmers should not assume that a borehole will have the same depth or yield as a nearby borehole. Site assessment and consideration of local geological conditions can help guide the drilling location and planning process.

Borehole yield is another important factor for irrigation projects. Finding water during drilling is only one stage of the process. Understanding how much water the completed borehole can provide is important when planning pumping and water management.

Pump selection should take into account borehole depth, water level, required flow rate, irrigation requirements, available power and borehole yield. Water storage can also help farmers manage irrigation schedules, peak demand, pumping periods, water distribution and temporary interruptions in power supply.

The irrigation method should also be considered when planning the overall system. Drip irrigation, sprinkler systems and centre pivot systems can have different flow and pressure requirements.

Venture Boreholes emphasizes that the goal is not simply to drill a borehole. The objective is to develop a coordinated agricultural water supply system consisting of the borehole, pump, storage, distribution and irrigation system.

Farmers planning an irrigation project should also consider water quality and future expansion. Planning these requirements in advance can help ensure that the water supply solution is aligned with the current and future needs of the farming operation.