By Stanley Nkhondoyachepa

Lilongwe, October 10, Mana: Irrigation farmers in the northern and southern regions have asked government to consider introducing subsidized farm inputs targeting them, saying the initiative can help the country attain food security.

The farmers made the appeal during a recent visit by Malawi News Agency (Mana) to various irrigation schemes in the northern and southern regions of the country where various crops are under irrigation.

Chairperson for Chakalamba Irrigation Scheme in Traditional Authority Nkhulambe in Phalombe District, Henry Tebulo said government should consider supporting irrigation farmers with cheaper farm inputs.

“I ask government to support irrigation farmers across the country at the start of our season in March with subsidized farm inputs, in the same way it does with rain fed agriculture farmers” he said.

Tebulo hailed government and some Non-Governmental Organizations for helping irrigation farming through revamping, maintaining and extending existing schemes as well as establishing new ones.

He noted that schemes are playing a major role in alleviating hunger amongst many households in the country.

“Before our irrigation scheme came into existence, we experienced hunger year in and out especially when rains fail, now we can boast of having enough food for ourselves and surplus for sale” he said.

Tebulo noted that currently farmers under irrigation in the area have acquired assets such as houses, motorbikes and cars, among others.

He however observed that with the prevailing prices of farm inputs on the market, irrigation farmers are facing serious challenges accessing the inputs, which puts irrigation farming at a disadvantage.

Concurring with Tebulo, President for Zombe Irrigation Scheme in TA KampingoSibande in Mzimba District, Joyce Kanyaso, said irrigation farming can thrive in the country if inputs are accessed cheaply.

“If government considers to extend the Affordable Input Program (AIP) to irrigation farmers in our season, then be assured that hunger will become history.

“We have water sources and idle land our area which can be utilized but the rising cost of farm input is betraying us. Government needs to come in with support” she said.

Kanyaso hailed government recent effort to promote irrigation farming through renovations of schemes and training of farmers, noting this will gradually lead to food sufficiency.

She said with effects of climate change currently being experienced, rains have increasingly become unreliable and that irrigation farming is the way to go.

Deputy Director of Irrigation Services at the Department of Irrigation, Engineer Anderson Mbozi said the irrigation potential in the country stands at about 407 862 hectares.

He said as at 30 August, 2024, 40 636 hectares was under irrigated crop production representing 60. 5 percent of total developed area and 70 percent of targeted area of scheme utilization.

Mbozi said currently the department provides support to smallholder farmers to ensure maximum utilization of the irrigation schemes by facilitating farmer mobilization groups, reorganization and monitoring of groups, among others.

The visit took Malawi News Agency to irrigation in Mzimba, Nkhata-bay, Zomba and Phalombe districts.