Firm invests K1.8bn in irrigation project
Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH), a German firm, has invested K1.8 billion in irrigation farming in Mwalija Village in Chikwawa, to ensure food security and consequently increase farmers’ income.
The project is expected to irrigate 95 hectares using gravity-fed irrigation supplemented by solar-powered pumping system.
Upon completion and full functioning, 400 households are expected to see a considerable increase in agricultural, marketing and environmental activities.
In an interview after the launch of the project, WHH head of project Jose Ruiz Verona asked community members to utilise and take full responsibility of the scheme once it becomes operational.
“There are a number of activities that come along with the scheme. From such activities, the communities stand to improve their food security, increase income security and achieve environment and catchment conservation,” he said.
According to Ruiz, the scheme will ensure constant availability of water as there will be water management structures.
He said measures to protect the environment such as training of farmers in responsible use of harmless pesticides and encouraging catchment area conservation, protection and rehabilitation will also be put in place.
Chikwawa District Council director of planning and development Kelvin Harawa expressed optimism that the project will improve food security in the district.
He said: “Chikwawa is often hit by hunger, but with this project which supplements government efforts in trying to address food insecurity, smallholder farmers will be able to grow more than once a year which will in the end increase the food basket.”
In his remarks, the project’s chairperson Tobias Nsanganyado hailed the German firm for entrusting the area with the project.
He expressed optimism that once the scheme is operational, it would lessen hunger in the district.
“We are grateful for this project and we can assure the financiers that we will take care of it so that we achieve the intended purpose of the scheme.
“We are usually hit by hunger and have been labelled beggars, but this will be history. We are ready to work with WHH and provide locally available materials where need be,” he said. n
