By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, May 6, Mana: Chairperson for Khamalathu Micro-irrigation Scheme in Traditional Authority Santhe in Kasungu District says the K96 million irrigation equipment received from the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) will help to avert hunger that threatens hundreds of households in the area.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Laston Mwale said changing climatic patterns have resulted in poor rains such that many households in the area have failed to harvest enough produce.

“This is why we thank government through NEEF for giving us a loan in form of irrigation equipment and inputs so that we get down to work this winter.

“We have a lot of water in the Bua River and alluvial soils on its beds but the challenge has been that we had no means to pump the water up to our gardens,” he said.

Mwale said the equipment will enable the 56-member group to cultivate the entire 46-hectare land along the Bua stretch in Group Village Head Chimbalame and produce at least 150, 000 metric tonnes of maize in the initial year.

Last week, NEEF handed over two pumps and 1,720-watt solar panels to the group in a loan package that also includes fertiliser, seed and chemicals.

Chief Executive Officer for NEEF, Humphrey Mdyetseni said crops to be produced under irrigation can help plug the 1 million ton food deficit the country is facing this year.

“Due to the insufficient production under the rain-fed season, government has commissioned a number of irrigation programmes and NEEF is one of those entities orchestrating the initiatives.

“We are targeting 200, 000 farmers in the eight months before the end of the year and with each cultivating a minimum of one acre, we can hit between 500 000 at worst to 1 million tons which resonates well with the gap that we have in the country,” Mdyetseni said.

He said the fund has already reached out to 500 farmers with micro-irrigation support, spending at least K300 million.

“To reach 200, 000 farmers, we will have to spend between K70 billion to K100 billion in loans. But that’s the most effective way of utilising our famers or they will remain idle until the next rains,” he said.

Senior Chief Santhe expressed gratitude to government saying she will ensure the equipment is put to good use and achieve food security for the communities.