There is a sigh of relief from over 300 farming households in 13 villages under the area of Paramount Chief Lundu in Chikwawa District as Illovo Sugar (Malawi) plc and its partners have handed over 19.5 hectares of solar-powered Ntondo drip Irrigation scheme to the community.
The scheme was commissioned in January last year and according to its Chairperson, Watson Solobala, they have already harvested maize thrice and in the process, reducing starvation in the area.
“Additionally, this year we have planted cotton as part of diversification,” said Solobala.
Illovo Sugar Nchalo Estate General Manager, Ricky Pillay, points out that the company wants to create a thriving community by empowering surrounding communities to be self-reliant.
The Ntondo Irrigation scheme is the fruit of a partnership entered in 2020 by Illovo Nchalo Estate, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and community members.
