K5bn to rehabilitate irrigation schemes—minister
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale says government will spend K5 billion to rehabilitate all irrigation schemes that were damaged by Cyclone Freddy in March this year.
He said an assessment of the schemes shows extensive damage; hence, government has roped in development partners to assist it with funds to repair the most affected schemes.
The minister said this on Friday during a tour of Chikalamba, Lingoni, and Mlooka irrigation schemes in Phalombe, Machinga, and Zomba districts.
The schemes are under the Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (Pride), which is funded by International Fund for Agriculture Development (Ifad) and Malawi Government.
Kawale said: “In Phalombe, some schemes suffered extensive damage from the cyclone. The damage is causing setbacks in the project completion.
“Nonetheless, the resilient communities have already commenced efforts to repair and restore some of them. So, government will help them in rehabilitating those schemes.”
Mlooka Irrigation Scheme site engineer Frank Mwenechanya said the solar-powered system, designed to draw water from the Shire River, is on track to be completed by November end this year. He said: “We are at 70 percent. We have installed the solar panels, constructed the pump house as well as connected it to the river”
