Govt unveils irrigation projects

Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has embarked on irrigation projects to transform 2 788 hectares in nine districts across the country.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda made the announcement in the National Assembly in Lilongwe on Wednesday when he presented a Ministerial Statement on the Water Situation and Irrigation Development in the country.

He said the nine districts to benefit are Chikwawa and Zomba in the South, Salima, Dowa, Mchinji, Nkhotakota and Dedza in the Centre, and Chitipa and Nkhata Bay in the North.

The minister stated that the project is proof that government is determined to increase irrigation coverage in the country through the development of a new scheme, as well as the rehabilitation and modernisation of old schemes, thereby building the capacity for technicians and farmers.

“In addition to constructing new irrigation schemes, government has also embarked on the rehabilitation of 16 irrigation schemes, in order to restore a total of 1 624 hectares of irrigated land that was damaged due to floods and other natural factors,” he added. n