Farmers at Chivundiko Tigwirizane Irrigation Scheme in Traditional Authority (T/A) Wasambo in Karonga District have commended Karonga Diocese of the Catholic Church for supporting them with a solar-powered irrigation equipment.
Speaking in an interview on Friday after a monitoring tour of the scheme in Vinthukutu Extension Planning Area, the scheme’s chairperson Joddie Nyirenda said the diocese, through the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (Cadecom), also provided members with farm inputs.
“The scheme will enable us to cultivate twice a year. In the past, we only depended on rain fed-agriculture, which affected our crop output due to erratic rains,” he said.
Besides enhancing new farming technologies and environment conservation, the project is also constructing 21 houses for vulnerable people in the area and an evacuation centre to accommodate 60 families as well as drilling six boreholes.
One of the housing scheme beneficiaries, Symon Mbewe, said the new house has provided a safe shelter for him and his six family members.
Karonga District Council acting director of planning and development Khumbo Mkandawire said the project was supporting people’s livelihood through irrigation farming.
“We are pleased that the project is also tackling climate change issues, disaster risk management through the construction of houses and evacuation centres and management of natural resources,” he said.
Karonga Diocese Cadecom coordinator Deodatus Muliya said the project focuses on livelihood, water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) and community’s resilience against climate change shocks.
“If the community cultivates twice a year, they will be food-secure. We are also promoting safe homes,” he said.
With funding from the Scottish Government through DAI Global UK, Cadecom is implementing a three year Climate Just Communities Project in T/A Wasambo in the district.
