By Solister Mogha

Zomba, April 11, Mana: Deputy Minister of Agriculture Benedicto Chambo has appealed to people of Zomba Chingale to embrace irrigation schemes by taking advantage of plenty water and fertile soils in order to avert hunger.

Chambo made the appeal on Thursday at Matoponi Irrigation Scheme where farmers in the area were set for irrigation farming.

He said agriculture productivity has changed due to effects of climate change, adding that the only way to ensure food security was to go for irrigation farming.

“Government is keen in as far as irrigation farming is concerned, and this is why we are constructing a number of irrigation schemes,” Chambo added.

Apart from irrigation schemes, he said government will be giving out agricultural inputs, such as fertilizer, through National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) loans.

Zomba District Council chairperson, Councilor Blazio Chinthenga, said Zomba is one of the districts with plenty water and fertile soil, adding that introduction of irrigation farming was an ideal way to achieve sustainable food security all year round.

“Malawi is not supposed to experience hunger, as we have enough irrigable land with plenty of water and all we want are irrigation schemes.

“I would like to appeal to government to continue opening up irrigation schemes so that Malawians should have the chance to cultivate three times a year,” he added and assured the minister that people will continue utilizing Matoponi Scheme in Chingale, taking advantage of water and fertile soil.

Sub Traditional Authority Nkapita hailed government for establishing irrigation schemes in his area, saying this will improve food security and better economic opportunities for people in the area through sales of agricultural produce.

He said the area is always subjected to droughts and establishment of irrigation schemes is solution to food insecurity at household level.

Matoponi Irrigation Scheme is one of the schemes supported by Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (Pride)