Machinga communities push for irrigation scheme
Communities from group village heads (GVHs) Chilala and Ngongongo in Traditional Authority (T/A) Liwonde in Machinga are pushing for the installation of an irrigation scheme to increase food productivity in the area.
One community member, Anjilu Mlenga, made the call on Friday during a meeting between duty-bearers and community members in the district which Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (Cadecom) organised.
She said the scheme will enable communities to alleviate hunger in the area.
Said Mlenga: “Currently, we have a five-hectare scheme that Cadecom installed some years ago.
“However, the scheme has 20 farmers, a number too small to feed the growing population in the area.”
Machinga District Council director of planning and development MacPherson Mwakhwawa acknowledged the appeal and said they will inspect the site for expansion project.
“The objective is to ensure that communities have access to basic needs of life such as food in the face of climate change,” he said.
On his part, Cadecom assistant programmes manager Aaron Kandiwo Ntaya asked the duty-bearers to address challenges rural masses are facing due to climate change effects.
Cadecom in collaboration with Civil Society Network on Climate Change is implementing a Climate Justice Advocacy Project, a component under Climate Challenge Programme Malawi in the district with support from Scottish Government through Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund and Trócaire.
