By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, April 3, Mana: District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa, has disclosed that over 250 hectares of crops have been washed away by floods in the area of Senior Chief Fukamapiri in the district.

He said the floods, caused by heavy down pour over the past weeks, have also left some families homeless.  

In interview on Sunday, during a monitoring visit to the affected areas to appreciate the extent of the damage, Newa said the district is urgently looking into measures to assist the affected households.

“Over the past weeks we have been receiving continuous heavy rainfall which led to flooding of Linga Dam affecting crops at Linga Irrigation Scheme and some surrounding areas.

“Assessment of the damage is still underway but preliminary assessment from our agriculture office indicates that over 250 hectares of crop land of immature maize, cassava, bananas and rice have been washed away, posing fear of hunger to affected communities” Newa said.

He said the Council is working on short term plans to make sure that food and shelter is available to the affected households and also devising long term plans like helping farmers to replant some of the crops that may still do better in the remaining time of this year’s growing season.

“We are further advising them to make good use of waters in the dam for irrigation in the dry season and also urging them to practice farming systems that promote minimum soil disturbance to protect their crops from being washed away by floods,” he said.

Senior Irrigation Engineer for Nkhata Bay, Edward Mjiku, said the blockage of the river course by branches of trees and grass at Linga Dam also contributed to the flooding.

One of the affected farmers, Green Banda, said his family will be rendered food insecure as the floods washed away a huge chunk of his three-acres field. 

According to Senior Assistant Meteorologist for Nkhata Bay, Amos Chimbwira, there is a possibility for the district to continue receiving heavy rainfall as the country draws towards the end of 2023/2024 rainfall season.