Farmers underutilise scheme, Dodma angry
Department of Disaster Management Affairs(Dodma) commissioner Charles Kalemba has expressed disappointment with farmers at Ntolongo and Makhaphwa irrigation schemes in Nsanje District for failing to utilise the facilities.
He said this on Saturday when he toured the schemes.
Kalemba said the African Development Bank through the Post-Cyclone Idai Recovery Emergency Project gave Dodma money in 2021 to rehabilitate several irrigation schemes in the district.
He said the schemes are Ntolongo in Traditional Authority (T/A) Tengani, Mkulowamitete in T/A Ndamera, Makhaphwa in T/A Mlolo and Nyamphembere in T/A Mbenje.
Kalemba added that Dodma also developed a new scheme called Chimwala-Mbangu.
He said: “Farmers in all irrigation schemes are working except at Ntolongo despite taking them on four occasions to learn from other schemes.
“This is retrogressive. I have asked the district council to remove all farmers who are not utilising both Ntolongo and Makhaphwa irrigation schemes from all government initiative programmes such as social cash transfer as it shows that they are lazy people who want to depend on handouts.”
Kalemba also condemned theft of irrigation equipment at the two irrigation schemes.
Senior Chief Tengani said he will ensure farmers start utilising Ntolongo Irrigation Scheme.
“It is a disgrace to hear that my subjects are failing to use the scheme,” he said.
Ntolongo Irrigation Scheme chairperson Christopher Thomu said the 88-hectare (ha) scheme has 555 lead farmers but the water is salty.
“Our crops wilt due to saline water,” he said.
In response, Kalemba said they will help farmers overcome the challenge.
On his part, Makhapwa Irrigation Scheme chairperson David Mainje said the 320-ha scheme has 720 lead farmers who are failing to use it because thieves have stolen solar panels.
