By Maston Kaiya

Ntcheu, October 12, Mana: Ntcheu District Irrigation Officer Limbani Mzembe has said the council appreciate the efforts by the Malawi WaterShed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) for building the capacity of farmers through Water Users Association (WUA) development.

Mzembe made the remarks on Friday after Tsangano Extension Planning Area (EPA) farmers of Ntcheu district, made a learning visit to Nkhate Irrigation Scheme in Chikwawa.

"From this MWASIP-funded visit to Chikwawa, we have learnt among other things that the scheme inclusively manages to support the marginalized communities and the vulnerable.

“The economic empowerment is also guaranteed through improved productivity of the irrigation scheme such as Nkhate," said Mzembe.

He commended the project for promoting food security, which is also one of the priority areas in Ntcheu District Development Plan (DDP).

For his part, Chikwawa District Irrigation Officer Stewart Chibwana said the biggest challenge for Nkhate farmers has been climate change.

 "The water flow is now less to suffice the hectarage of the scheme due to climate change," said Chibwana.

Thava Water Users Association President Joy Sitima assured stakeholders that his association will use the knowledge gained from the Nkhate Irrigation scheme.

"There are a lot of things that we have learnt which are commendable to replicate," said Sitima.

Crops including rice, maize, beans, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes are grown in the 243 hectares Nkhate irrigation scheme.