By Gracious Phiri
Kasungu, May 21, Mana: The National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) continues to provide micro-irrigation loans to farmers’ clubs in Kasungu District, enabling smallholder farmers to access modern farming techniques and technologies and boost crop yields to curb food insecurity.
Speaking when he handed over irrigation equipment and farm inputs to Ntanga Women Irrigation Club, in Traditional Authority Njombwa, NEEF Zone Manager for Mponela, Lloyd Nyakamera, said the loans will avert hunger created by harsh climatic conditions, which affected harvests in this year’s farming season.
He said NEEF is committed to supporting government efforts to attain food security through irrigation agriculture to enable farmers to cultivate crops such as maize, at least twice a year.
“The programme is meant to curb hunger and boost the economy of the country through contributions by smallholder farmers.
“These smallholder farmers will be able to have enough food for themselves and sell the remaining for the continuation of the programme,” Nyakamera said.
He urged beneficiaries to make good use of the loan so that they are able to repay it, adding that as NEEF, they are not just looking for loan repayment but, also, improving the economic status of the beneficiaries.
Senior Chief Njombwa thanked NEEF for the loan saying it is in line with government’s efforts to have a hunger free country.
Chairperson for the Club, Matren Phiri, also expressed gratitude for the loan, saying it will help the group to cultivate crops on a large scale.
“We have been waiting for this opportunity because ever since we started in 2018, we have been doing irrigation on small scale, using hired water pumps at a high cost.
“This is why we are excited that we now have our own pump, which uses solar energy, meaning that we will save a lot of money that we used to spend on hiring pumps and buying fuel,” Phiri said.
The loan package included solar powered water pump, maize seeds, and 100 bags of fertilizer, all valued at K30million.
