Irrigation Scheme in Traditional Authority Malemia in Nsanje District have asked well-wishers to support them with irrigation equipment to scale up their production.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, the scheme’s chairperson Mzinga Mulaphandevu said farmers are failing to utilise 30 hectares (ha) and only cultivate 15ha due to insufficient irrigation materials.
“We are grateful to Concern Worldwide for supporting us with a mobile solar-powered pump we are using. We would like to get more support us, especially solar-powered water pumps to use for irrigation,” he said.
Mulaphandevu said irrigation is the surest way to harvest food unlike depending on rains, which could be erratic at times.
On her part, Gloria Genti from Chipwembwe Village in T/A Malemia, said the scheme has become a source of food and income, as she harvest about 12 to 16 bags of maize, 10 bags of rice and five bags of beans.
She also said she grows crops such as beans and vegetables.
Another farmer, Mercy Goliati from Lazao Village in T/A Malemia said using a mobile solar-powered pump system is not conducive to modern irrigation as it involves a lot of labour.
Zunde Extension Planning Area extension agriculture development officer Collins Walasi said farmers in the area are willing to utilise the entire scheme, but they lack equipment.
“They were using watering cans to water their crops until Concern Worldwide provided them with a mobile solar-powered pump system recently,” he said.
