MDAs tipped on Shire Valley irrigation project

Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) has asked the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) involved in the implementation of the Shire Valley Transformation Programme to coordinate to ensure success.

Speaking in Blantyre on Tuesday, PDU head Janet Banda, who toured the project on Monday, said it is one of the major enablers of Malawi 2063.

She said: “I am pleased to learn that about 223 000 farmers from 48 400 farming households from Nsanje and Chikwawa will engage in large-scale commercial farming under the programme.

“This is in line with the county’s transformative agenda President Lazarus Chakwera is championing.”

Banda said PDU engaged controlling officers from MDAs to discuss roles and responsibilities expected from them in the programme’s implementation.

“They should identify gaps to be addressed for the programme to achieve its intended goals considering its complex nature. I urge the MDAs to constitute technical working teams to strategise on the proposals made in the short, medium and long-term,” she said.

Commenting on behalf of Ministry of Health, director of health sector and inter-governmental coordination Amon Nkhata said one of the impacts highlighted to be addressed by his ministry was the potential for water-borne diseases in the beneficiary districts.

“With the irrigation schemes, there is potential for waterborne diseases. As a ministry, we have the personnel on the ground like district environmental officers and others to assist in such situations,” he said.

On his part, Shire Valley Transformation Programme project coordinator Stanley Khaila said they invited the MDAs to raise awareness on the roles and responsibilities towards the programme.

He said there is need for collaboration from other ministries for the programme to achieve its goals.