Irrigation farming transforms lives

People in Traditional Authority Simphasi in Mchinji District can now smile following the introduction of irrigation farming in their area by Assemblies of God Care (AG Care).

One of the beneficiaries Haswell Kamthemba, who is also Ng’ombeyayera Incubator group member, said AG Care introduced drip irrigation technology in the area.

He said they grow various crops using drip irrigation technology as a group.

Kamthemba adopted the technology and established a vegetable garden at his home.

“After selling the vegetables, I decided to diversify my income sources. I ventured into livestock farming. I bought pigs and raised them,” he said.

Kamthemba said he sold the piglets and realised K400 000.

“I bought a sewing machine to venture into tailoring. I now generate K50 000 a week. I am now able to pay school fees for my children and support my family,” he said.

The group’s chairperson Malizani Fayisoni said they embraced drip irrigation and now cultivate various crops.

“We earned K360 000 from our first harvest. We used part of the money to purchase more drip irrigation kits and shared the remainder among members,” he said.

AG Care agronomist Mphatso Nkhoma said the drip irrigation technique relieves farmers from using watering cans.

“We introduced the irrigation technique to the group members as a learning point. However, we have seen that the technology has transformed their lives,” she said.

AG Care is implementing activities under Sustainable Food Systems for Rural Agriculture Transformation and Resilience (Transform) programme coordinated by Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

The Transform programme seeks to improve food and nutrition security, resilience to climate change and income among smallholder farmers in Malawi.

The programme targets 150 000 agriculture-dependent rural households in Rumphi, Mzimba, Kasungu, Dowa, and Mchinji districts.