By Solister Mogha

Zomba, August 25, Mana: Titukulane Project, under Save the Children and Care Malawi, on Thursday handed over a 15-hectare Ikanga Irrigation Scheme at Chingale in Zomba as one way of improving crop production at household level among the rural population.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Food Security and Technical Coordinator for Care Malawi, Henry Khonyongwa, said the organization was prompted to invest in a K25 million worth irrigation scheme as one way of improving people’s livelihoods through crop production.

Khonyongwa said because of communities’ interest in farming and readily available water sources, the organization thought of supporting farming communities with gravity fed irrigation system to alleviate people from routine hunger on top of promoting irrigation farming.

“This is one of the areas in Zomba that yearly get affected by hunger yet there are running rivers throughout the year. As an organization, we felt it necessary that we develop a gravity fed irrigation system with the aim of reducing hunger and improve livelihood,” he added.

Khonyongwa expressed hope that the irrigation scheme will help people to realize enough food and that the people will also engage in various agribusinesses.

One of the beneficiaries of the scheme, Oscar William, said the introduction of Ikanga Irrigation Scheme has helped farmers to grow thrice a year and has also, most importantly, reduced hunger.

“We would like to thank Titukulane Project for coming to our rescue; apart from the scheme, we have also been trained on modern farming technologies on top of accessing hybrid seed,” said Wiliam.

With the irrigation scheme in place, Village Head Fikila said his subjects will no longer go hungry.

“Famine is undisputable this year but, for us, we have hope that we will harvest maize from our irrigable lands,” the local leader added. 

Started in 2019, Ikanga Irrigation Scheme has 32 farmers who grow various crops such as maize, beans and tomatoes.