RESPONSIBILITIES OF BRANCHES AND PROVINCIAL OFFICES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF IRRIGATION
Planning Branch
- Overall coordination of planning of irrigation development nationally
- Identification of new large irrigation projects
- Carrying out topographical surveys, soil surveys, and socio-economic surveys
- Conducting Environmental Impact Assessments of irrigation projects
- Production of irrigation designs and feasibility reports
- Development, adaptation and enforcement of irrigation design standards
- Developing and maintaining national database on irrigation development in Zimbabwe
Development Branch
- Production of detailed designs, bills of quantities and tender documents
- Adjudication of tenders
- Development, adaptation and enforcement of irrigation construction standards
- Construction of large irrigation projects
- Contract management and site supervision of contractors
- Commissioning of irrigation projects
Mechanical and Electrical Branch
- Maintenance of Department of Irrigation mechanical plant and equipment
- Design irrigation mechanical installations
- Design and implement irrigation plant layout
- Train staff and farmers on irrigation mechanical equipment installations, use, repair and maintenance.
- Design electrical installations on irrigation schemes
- Implement all electrical installations on irrigation schemes
- Train staff and farmers in proper operation of electrical components in the irrigation system.
Water Management Branch
- Design of irrigation systems for urban, industrial and mining water re-use irrigation systems
- Implement waste water re-use irrigation schemes
- Generate guidelines and standards for wastewater irrigation in Zimbabwe
- Promote proper water management and irrigation scheduling for all irrigation systems
- Train irrigation water users in water management
Economics Branch
- Carrying out financial, economic and social appraisal of proposed irrigation projects
- Monitoring and evaluation of the socio-economic performance of irrigation projects
- Provision of training and advice to farmers on irrigation financial and economic matters
- Creating, updating and maintaining databases on irrigation issues.
Research, Testing and Technology Development (RTTD) Branch.
- Irrigation research
- Collaboration with institutions on issues pertinent to irrigation
- Irrigation equipment testing
- Irrigation technology development ,adoption/adaptation
- Development of standards for irrigation equipment testing and performance
- Monitoring and Evaluation of the Technical performance of irrigation projects
This branch is housed at the Zimbabwe Irrigation Technology Centre (ZITC).
Training Branch
- Conducting and coordinating irrigation training for farmers and staff
- Quality control of all training programmes
- Information dissemination
- Irrigation technology demonstration.
Provincial Offices
- Overall co-ordination of provincial irrigation development
- Planning, designing and construction of small to medium irrigation schemes
- Operation, repair, maintenance and management of communal irrigation schemes
- Rehabilitation of A1 and A2 schemes
- Farmer training in irrigation infrastructure use and management
- Provision of irrigation engineering services
