Call for substantial investment in irrigation

Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale made the call Wednesday when he launched the construction of Dowa Dambo Irrigation Scheme being funded by Malawi government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to a tune of K 29.1 billion.

The Scheme will see the construction of five dams with over 30 submersible pumps, which will provide water to 453 hectares of farmland.

Kawale said the recent erratic rain patterns, droughts, which resulted into a state of disaster in many districts, was a wakeup call that the country could no longer depend on rain fed agriculture for food security.

"In recognition of that, President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera expressed numerous measures put in place to deal with long term food shortages, with special emphasis on irrigation agriculture.

"Irrigation is very important to us as a nation. It will help our farmers plant and harvest more than once, depending on the crop under cultivation. It will provide socio economic endeavors, enough and nutritious food critical for a healthy population that can partake in the development of the country," he said.

The Minister pointed out the need for the community to utilize the project, which was being constructed by the Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (FISD) and a joint venture of SAWA and SICO JV, and expected to be completed in 18 months.

Kawale added that Ministry of Agriculture was committed to achieving the country’s quest for sustainable food security.

"As such today, we have immense joy with this project as it not only contributes towards Malawi 2063, but answers the request from Malawians to help them grow more food," he said.

IFAD Country Director, Bernedette Mukonyora said her organization was supporting government to have adequate funding to actualize its plans, programsme, policies and priorities in the agriculture sector.

She said with irrigation farming and infrastructure development being a core pillar under Malawi 2063, Malawi like other countries was facing challenges due to climate change, making it difficult to attain food security.

"So we are funding this program to enable government support the food security and production agenda of this country. Irrigation allows you to produce more than once, which means continuous cropping.

"This project will help in supporting household production in Dowa, it will promote diversification because a community can cultivate different crops within the year, and it supports the agriculture commercialization agenda," she said.

Chairperson for Dowa District Council, Mayamiko Kambewa said the project would help farmers benefit from their farming activities.

"If we want to see tangible results in farming, we have to encourage farmers to harvest more than once a year. One of the ways is to put in structures which will encourage irrigation farming.

"We are very happy because we know that this is the beginning of a new era which will propel food security and income generation for our people," he said.

Government is constructing the scheme, which is the eighth one in the country, through the Department for Irrigation under the Program for Rural Irrigation Development (PRIDE).