Mega farm projects start in Chikwawa

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reenbelt Authority board chairperson Wester Kosamu says rehabilitation of Nyamithambo and Mwananjobvu irrigation schemes in Chikwawa District is set to start.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, he said Nyamithambo in Senior Chief Ngabu and Mwananjobvu in Traditional Authority Ngowe are earmarked for mega farms project.

Kosamu also said the authority handed over construction works of Nyamithambo Irrigation Scheme to Ground Force Contractors and Mwananjobvu Dyke-Construction Project to Shilpa Contractors.

He  said Insight Consultant Group will monitor the two contractors. 

Kosamu further said the mega farms will depend on the 49-kilometre canal under construction under the Shire Valley Transformation Programme.

“The mega farms will scale up food production in the country,” he said.

However, he said National Audit Office report exposed that K2.6 billion at Nchalo Greenbelt Authority Limited in Chikwawa was allegedly not accounted for.

“The matter is now in the hands of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Despite the loss, it pleased President Lazarus Chakwera through the Presidential Delivery Unit to settle K80 million arrears for employees at Nchalo Greenbelt Authority Limited,” said Kosamu.

Nyamithambo Irrigation Association chairperson Lyson Moyo said he wished farmers were primary beneficiaries of the scheme.

“We want farmers to construct houses, buy vehicles, motorbikes and send their children to school through working at the mega farms,” he said.

Traditional Authority Ngowe asked the contractors to build a resilient dyke along Lalanje River at Mwananjobvu Irrigation Scheme.

“We want a strong dyke which will protect people and farms from floods during the rainy season,” he said.

Nyamithambo Irrigation Scheme will cost taxpayers K338 million while a dyke at Mwananjobvu Irrigation Scheme will cost K500 million.