By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, March 8, Mana: Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale on Thursday disclosed that Government has allocated 100 billion Kwacha towards intensification of irrigation farming through mega farms as a way of ensuring that maize reserves remain sufficient throughout the year.

The development was disclosed in the area of Senior Chief Khombedza in Salima district, when the Minister inspected a 100-hectare mega farm.

According to Kawale for the next six months’ government will scale up irrigation farming and that the Ministry of Finance has already authorized financing the project.

He said the El nino which caused dry spells in the country need to be countered strategically by employing measures such as irrigation and collaborating with already existing mega farmers from across the country.

"Rain fed agriculture will not give us enough maize, already with the dry spells that have been experienced this farming season we should anticipate food shortages, we need to improvise with irrigation farming so that we can be harvesting three times a year through already existing commercial farmers," he said.

He added: "Ministry of Agriculture will provide technical expertise and resources to Malawians who want to venture into irrigation farming, because we have decentralized our system to empower Malawians," he said.

Kawale said he was impressed with the maize production at the maize farm in Salima adding that such initiatives should be supported because the maize will be channeled towards the country's grain reserves.

"What greenbelt initiative has done in this area is commendable, they have employed community members to work in this field in the long they are financially empowering them and giving them a livelihood," he said.

Board Chairperson for Greenbelt Authority Peter Kosamu said government's initiative to scale up irrigation is commendable and expressed willingness to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture.

He said Greenbelt Authority has spared 1000 hectares of land toward irrigation unfortunately they need about K10 billion for the project to materialize.

"We have a land closer to the lake already piped which we are willing to use for the production of maize, whether we will manage to get the full amount or not the land needs to be utilized, therefore as an authority we are ready to partner with government," he said.

Kosamu said the maize from Salima's Chikwawa mega farm and other mega farms across the country will be sold to the National Food Reserve.

A beneficiary, who works at the mega farm, Kerita Lyson commended Greenbelt initiative saying that she is now independent and no longer depends on her relatives to take care of her four children because every Fridays she receives her wages amounting to MK16,100.

Lyson said through the wages she has managed to rent one hectare of land and she has planted maize and she is assured of food sufficiency after she harvests.

Chikwawa irrigation scheme is a rain fed mega farm and currently has 140 casual labourers, manning the 100-hectare mega farm in Salima district.