Ministry of Agriculture has projected that the country could produce at least 250 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize per cycle from 50 000 hectares that will be committed to irrigation to enhance food security.
Speaking on Friday when he launched maize planting at the 400 hectares Dowa-Dambo Irrigation Scheme in Dowa, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Benedicto Chambo said government aims to improve food security by producing maize in three cycles from 50 000 hectares nationwide which will realise at least 750 000MT annually.
He said government will support the farmers with farm inputs loans through the National Economic Empowerment Fund (Neef).
Said Chambo: “The 50 000 hectares is what government is supporting but there are also other farmers who are doing irrigation farming on their own, there are also mega farms where irrigation farming is taking place.
“We want Malawi to be able to produce more and be able to export. We have been relying on rain-fed but now we want to rely on irrigation so that Malawi should be food secure but also be exporting more.”
He has since called on farmers at the irrigation scheme and other schemes supported by government to be actively involved, saying with irrigation farming, the country is on the right path to stop importing maize.
Dowa Dambo Water Users Association chairperson Pilirani Phiri said the farmers are ready to utilise the whole 400 hectares under the Dowa Dambo Scheme.
He said households have had challenges with rain-fed agriculture hence the irrigation scheme is a big relief to them.
“Farmers have demonstrated ownership of the project and went to the point of contributing money to buy fuel for tractors so that tilling of land is done quickly,” said Phiri.
Senior Group Village Head Chimanda commended the government for putting efforts into the development of the scheme, saying it will help end hunger in the area.
In an inter view yesterday, agriculture policy expert Tamani Nkhono Mvula said the best time to embark on irrigation farming is now when the rains have just stopped.
However, he called on government to invest more in infrastructure to support irrigation farming, saying most farmers are unable to engage in irrigation farming due to costs involved in setting up irrigation systems.
Said Nkhono Mvula: “We need to put the necessary infrastructure in place in order for farmers to be able to embark on irrigation farming.
“Government should also consider subsidies for irrigation equipment so that farmers are able to afford equipment. Without investing in infrastructure it is very difficult to produce more food through irrigation.”
In the 2025-2026 National Budget, government allocated K99.5 billion for irrigation development. Government also allocated an additional K70 billion to Neef to support farmers with farm inputs, having allocated K150 billion in the 2024-2025 financial year
