Use CDF to boost agriculture—MP

Mzimba East Constituency legislator Christopher Mnyenyembe has urged communities to allocate part of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards improving agriculture.

The member of Parliament (MP) warned against “the narrow mindset” that CDF is only meant for construction of roads, bridges, school blocks and clinics.

Setting the pace, his constituency has allocated K1.6 million for the establishment of Kasangazi Irrigation Scheme where they used CDF to offer farmers farm inputs.

“Most MPs focus on construction projects, forgetting agriculture. But if people don’t have adequate food, they cannot be productive,” he said.

Mnyenyembe said the Kasangazi project was conceived to wean Mzimba East constituents form doing piecework in the neighbouring Lweya Irrigation Scheme in Nkhata Bay.

“We noticed that farming is a need in the area; hence, coming up with the scheme for them to be self-reliant and food secure,” he said.

According to Kasangazi Irrigation Scheme chairperson Chidongo Chirwa, it benefits 94 farming families from surrounding villages.

“We are now food secure. We grow crops three times a year. We don’t just depend on rains anymore,” he said.  n