Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance has commended Concern Worldwide for implementing interventions to mitigate the impact of climate change in Nsanje District.
Speaking on Monday after inspecting Nyamadzere Irrigation Scheme in the district, the organisation’s director Michael Szoenyi said Concern Worldwide used the funds for the intended purpose.
He said: “I am impressed with the coordination with different stakeholders, starting from the district council, committees of disaster, agriculture and communities they are working with.
“We are motivated to continue supporting the interventions, including irrigation.”
Nyamadzere Irrigation Scheme chairperson Austin Fote thanked the organisation for supporting them with a solar-powered irrigation system which helped them to irrigate different crops, ranging from maize, sweet potatoes, beans, cabbage, onions, pawpaw, pigeon peas, tomatoes and vegetables.
He said that the scheme helps them achieve food and income security.
A lead farmer Frazer Mapinga from Therere Village said they requested Concern Worldwide for support this year.
“We were previously using watering cans and buckets to water our crops, which was tough. The solar pumps are now doing the job for us,” he said.
Zunde Extension Planning Area agriculture extension development officer Collins Walasi said the scheme has become the answer for farmers who failed to utilise their land along the Shire River after it was flooded for over three years.
He said a farmers in the area now harvest at least 80 bags of maize and 50 bags of beans under irrigation.
Concern Worldwide programme director Paul Carr said irrigation is helping communities respond to climate change shocks such as floods and prolonged dry spells.
“We want communities to understand climate change issues and plan best approaches to it. So, people saw that an irrigation scheme could be the best remedy. Therefore, we supported them with a solar-powered pump,” he said.
Nyamadzere Irrigation Scheme was established in 2007 and has 160 lead farmers in Traditional Authority Malemia in the district.
