President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has ensured people in Chikawa on food security in the country and to put an end poverty on 12 October 2022, wednessday.

After inspecting the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP), he said he will introduce other projects in many areas.

Chakwera said, “The SVTP coupled with good roads, railway line and better bridges will transform many people’s lives in the country and it will also make Malawi self-reliant and food secure as the agriculture sector will improve due to modern farming methods.”

This might take a lot of time but for us to make a good foundation, we need time to lay a good build on which will help our country not to be the same,” he said.

The project which started in 2018, has four main components namely; irrigation service and infrastructure improvement; land tenure and natural resources management support; agriculture development and commercialization.

SVTP Coordinator, Dr. Stanley Khaila said the project will help farmers in Chikwawa and Nsanje and even the Illovo Sugar Company.

One of the prospective beneficiaries of the programme, Martha Francisco said the project will help more households to do well economically.

“It will also empower women to be financially independent through the profits that we will be making from irrigation farming.” said Francisco.

She added that the transformation programme will also help in reducing school dropouts in our area, since students used to drop out because of school fees.

By the end of 2031 the project is expected to be completed, is funded by Malawi Government, the World Bank and the African Development Bank to the tune of $7.2 million (about K7.5 billion) $160 million (about K1.6 trillion) and $60 million (about K62 billion).