By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, December 16, Mana: Minister of Agriculture, Sam Dalitso Kawale has urged people that surround Chilingali and Bua Irrigation Schemes in Nkhotakota to use such places wisely for them to have multiple harvests in a year.

Kawale said this after visiting the places that were affected by floods to appreciate the current state.

He said the visit aimed to inspect the two Irrigation schemes that were damaged and to see the way forward on how the government can rehabilitate them in order to ensure food security.

The Minister encouraged farmers who have access to the Irrigation systems to use it wisely and focus on commercial farming as President Dr Lazarus Chakwera encourages all farmers to generate more income from their farming.

"We will continue to visit all irrigation Schemes that have been damaged as we source funding to rehabilitate them and increase the hectarage that is currently underused in the country,” said Kawale

President of Water Users Association Twaibu Maulana said Chilingali Irrigation scheme has been beneficial to the public as they can generate money for school fees and feed their families, hoping the visit by the Minister will help to address and fix the problem.

"We want the president to fix our Chilingali Scheme and we need protection bands that protect the water from Kaombe River into our scheme,” said Maulana.

Director of Irrigation System Geoffrey Mwepa said the Irrigation Schemes are beneficial to the district because they provide sources of food and income; however, it continues to face problems of droughts and flooding that affect Irrigation farming and need addressing.