Communities in Sub-Traditional Authorities (ST/A) Nkasala in Zomba District have expressed hope that irrigation farming will improve their livelihoods.
Government, under Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (Pride), with funding from International Fund for Agriculture Development, has constructed Matoponi and Mlowoka irrigation schemes in the area.
Under irrigation farming, communities are expected to grow rice and maize.
Speaking on Friday during a media tour to appreciate the impact of the schemes on farmers, Chifundo Bika, a member at Matoponi Irrigation Scheme, said winter cropping will enhance food security in the area.
He said: “Because of many factors such as climate change shocks, we fail to get bumper harvest from this area.
“Therefore, the scheme will enable us to grow crops under irrigation.”
Bika said he was cultivating maize on a 0.2 hectare and was looking forward to harvesting enough for his family.
About 30 kilometres away, farmers are also growing maize at Mlowoka Irrigation Scheme.
The scheme’s general secretary Kasimidwa Akileni said farmers learned how to run the facility.
“ST/A Nkapita is a rain shadow area which experiences little or no rainfall almost every season. As such, we thank government for constructing the scheme as it will help people realise food and income,” he said.
Zomba District Council irrigation officer Mwandilange Nicholas Kumasala said besides constructing the two schemes, Pride also engaged communities to grow trees and take care of the environment to prevent soil erosion that may cause siltation in the dams.
“The schemes will empower farmers socio-economically and enhance food security in the district,” he said.
Located along the Shire River, the two schemes are expected to boost agricultural productivity in an area that often experiences food shortages due to dry spells
