Karonga rice farmers tipped on scheme management

Karonga District Council principal agriculture extension officer Jessie Mwambongo has urged rice farmers in the district to pay plot and water fees to enable water users associations (WUAs) fund light maintenance works in the scheme.

He said this on Saturday at Chonanga Rice Irrigation Scheme in Traditional Authority Wasambo during an inspection tour Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary responsible for irrigation Engineer Geoffrey Mamba and Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (Pride) officials made to appreciate progress of the construction works of the scheme.

Said Mwambongo: “Having inspected the rehabilitation works, we are satisfied with the progress.However, we have noted that the canals have minor cracks, an indication that they are not being taken care of. Let us empower our WUAs so that they should have money for minor maintenance works.

“This will ease government’s burden and it will channel the resources to other schemes that also need major rehabilitation works.”

Chonanga Irrigation Scheme WUA chairperson Maluwa Munthali promised to embrace the spirit of ownership and collect contributions for minor maintenance works.

On his part, Engineer Mamba urged the farmers to make good use of the facility, saying President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration wants people to embark on winter cropping to make Malawi food secure.

“The government’s emphasis is on irrigation farming as one way of averting food shortage and forex scarcity as it has the potential for exports,” he said.

In his remarks, Pride project coordinator Munday Makoko, whose institution is funding the rehabilitation works, hailed the contractor for doing quality work.

Malawi Government in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development is rehabilitating Ukanga, Hara, Wovwe and Chonanga irrigation schemes under the Pride project.