Likoma Council donates water pump to women

Likoma District Council has donated a K350 000 motorised water pump to Nachilambe Women’s Group on Chizumulu Island to support their irrigation.

Speaking during the event on Monday, Likoma district commissioner Eric Nema said they bought the pump for the group to boost their farming.

“We saw potential in the group. So we supported them to boost their crop production. We pledge to secure markets for their produce,” he said.

Nachilambe Women’s Group chairperson Beatrice Njakale thanked the council for the pump.

“We will increase crop production which will in turn improve our income,” she said.

Njakale said they used to travel a long distance to fetch water from Lake Malawi to irrigate their gardens.

“It was tiresome to carry buckets of water from the lake to the gardens,” she said.

The group’s member Martha Chigowo said they will now grow crops throughout the year.

“We are pleased with the council’s pledge to connect us to markets. We want to produce more so that we can sell at the mainland,” she said.

Chigowo said farming will improve their financial status; hence, encouraged other women to venture in farming.