Fisd to train more irrigation experts
Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (Fisd) says it has all the necessary expertise to train more Malawians in new irrigation technologies.
Fisd programmes director Kondwani Nanchukwa, speaking on the sidelines of the hands-on training in irrigation development for government officers in Ministry of Water Development and Irrigation at Bunda College in Lilongwe said by being awarded a contract to train government officials, it shows that they have come of age as an organisation.
The organisation became a successful bidder to train government officers in course funded by the World Bank.
“We sent in our tenders to financiers of this training and we were competing with other established institutions but the World Bank chose us to be the facilitators and this shows that they have confidence in us,” said Nanchukwa.
He said Fisd officials have acquired enough expertise to try irrigation technologies on the ground and the results have been impressive.
“When we train people, we take them to field because irrigation techniques need more practical work,” said Nanchukwa.
Minister of Water Development and Irrigation Anita Kalinde commended Fisd officials, saying that previous training courses in irrigation were conducted by foreigners.
“I am pleased to note that the course facilitators and the trainers are all Malawians considering that the last time we had a similar course we had to engage external trainers.
“This is indeed high time that we built our own capacity at all levels of irrigation if we have to show irrigation partners that we have experts who can plan, design and implement projects,” she said.
Kalinde said if the course is successfully implemented, development partners will have confidence in the local experts and more resources to conduct similar training courses in future will be released.
