The Ministry of Agriculture says it plans to develop 250 000 hectares (ha) for irrigation to cover a 450 000ha idle stretch that has potential for irrigation.
In an interview yesterday, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale expressed optimism to reach the target with projects such as the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) which is anticipated to add 43 000ha of irrigation area.
Kawale said this when he presided over the commissioning of a renovated and refurbished SVTP office complex in Blantyre.
He said: “The country has about 405 hectares that can be used for irrigation, but we are way below that. We still have to develop 250 000 hectares more.
“But we are adding thousands of hectares each year. So, with the 43 000 hectares under the SVTP, we are very optimistic we will get to the 250 000 target.”
The minister, however, said there is no specific time-frame to achieve the target as it depends on availability of resources.
Commenting on the office complex built by DEC Construction, Kawale said it is imperative to have SVTP staff at facilities that can help them operate effectively.
In a separate interview, SVTP board chairperson Stanley Khaila said the renovated and refurbished office complex will provide a conducive working environment.
“The office complex structure means a lot, not just to the programme staff, but to the ministry. We need offices where people will be helping farmers,” he said.
DEC Construction managing director Dan Chale said work on the office complex was fast-tracked.
Ministry of Agriculture is implementing the SVTP with support from the World Bank, African Development Bank and Opec Fund for International Development.
It targets 43 370ha by pumping water from the Shire River and conveying it by gravity to the irrigable area in districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje. The project is being implemented in three sequential phases.
Among others, the project will ensure a more consistent supply of water to farm-lands throughout the year, thereby ease agricultural activities
