As 500 orphaned children gather for another meal at the Holy Cross Parish in Tshabalala, a densely populated suburb of Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, Father Eugene is relieved the parish has recently increased its capacity to feed the children who rely on it.

Roughly 270 kilometers to the east, in the town of Nyamazura, John Matsangura stands amid his garden’s abundant paprika harvest. Since he started farming in 1971, Matsangura has only been able to grow enough subsistence crops to keep his family of six children afloat. Now, however, he produces a more diverse harvest that keeps his family healthier and brings in extra income from the sale of cash crops such as paprika. 

The orphans’ welfare, the Matsangura family’s standing, and the well-being of thousands of others in Zimbabwe have improved thanks to a simple $30 drip irrigation kit. Working with 33 local NGOs, DAI has distributed these irrigation kits throughout Zimbabwe and trained farmers in their use. The kit distribution program is a part of Linkages for the Economic Advancement of the Disadvantaged (LEAD), funded by USAID. As of June 2004, 23,000 kits have been distributed to family farmers, religious organizations, and hospitals.

“The drip kit method of irrigating is simple, efficient, and effective,” said Matsangura. “It has helped me to make optimal use of land and water. It will help me grow high-value crops all year round and double my income.” 

Such improvements are particularly valuable in Zimbabwe, which faces an HIV/AIDS epidemic, economic weakness, and chronic food shortages. Eighty percent of the country’s residents rely on agriculture for their survival. Because water is the limiting factor to agricultural production in much of the country, these kits make a significant difference. The drip kit uses 50 percent less water than traditional methods of bucket watering, produces better yields, and allows farmers to grow higher-quality crops for consumption and sales.

USAID/Zimbabwe Mission Director Paul Weisenfeld adds, “The drip kit is labor saving; that is, it substantially reduces the amount of time and labor that must be devoted to the hand watering of plots. It’s ideal for those suffering from the effects of HIV/AIDS.”

LEAD runs through March 2006. Through the drip irrigation program and other LEAD projects in Zimbabwe, DAI continues to fulfill its mission of improving people’s lives through innovative and sustainable development programs.