Farmers around Mafinga Hills Irrigation Scheme in Senior Chief Mweniwenya in Chitipa have expressed hope that the 131 hectares (ha) scheme will improve food security in the district.

Speaking in an interview on Saturday after a media tour to the area, Mafinga Hills Irrigation Scheme lead farmer Jane Mtambo said the scheme, which taps its water from Mafinga River, will turn around people’s fortunes.

“With unpredictable rainfall patterns, the scheme has given us hope that if well utilised, we can turn this area into a food basket. This will be possible because we will be able to grow crops twice or thrice a year,” she said.

Another farmer Aubren Silumbu said they will grow maize, Irish potatoes and beans that will not only improve food availability but they will also sell the surplus to generate income.

Mtambo picking weeds in her maize garden at the scheme in Chitipa

“It will now be easy for farmers to grow crops thrice a year and realise bumper yields, courtesy of new farming techniques we have embraced,” he said.

Mafinga Hills Irrigation Scheme Water Users Association chairperson Mathias Kanyika said the scheme has 383 registered farmers and 174 farmers have already planted maize which they expect to harvest before the rainy season.

In an interview, Karonga Agriculture Development Division chief irrigation officer John Bvutula said government constructed the scheme to empower farmers to grow crops under irrigation.

He said: “Government through the Department of Irrigation conducted a survey in 2014/15 and found potential areas for irrigation farming. We documented the findings in Irrigation Master Plan and Investment Framework whose objective is to implement irrigation farming in rural areas.

“Our expectation is to increase irrigation farming hectarage for smallholder farmers to boost food and income security.”

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) and Malawi Government are jointly funding the construction of the schemes as part of Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (Pride).

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