President Dr Lazarus Chakwera says irrigation farming in Karonga District will complement the government’s efforts in eradicating hunger in the country.
Chakwera said the projects in the district are in line with the Mega farm projects and called for collective effort to accomplish the mission.
He was speaking after visiting rice Irrigation schemes in Karonga District where he also visited Nthola-illola rice project and Wovwe rice irrigation scheme.
Authorities in Karonga District have indicated that Wovwe irrigation scheme alone, for instance, has the ability of producing rice worth over K3.7 billion per year.
Wovwe rice irrigation scheme was rehabilitated by FISD with funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development through Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (Pride), while Nthola-ilola rice project is a new project by the Greenbelt Authority and it comprises an irrigation scheme and a rice processing Factory.
Before visiting the rice irrigation projects, Dr Chakwera visited Karonga Town Water Supply Project.
The 26.7 million US dollar project, according to the Chairperson for Northern Region Water Board, Frank Mwenifumbo, is at 90 percent completion.
The project will supply clean water to over 189,000 households in the district and it is expected to be finalized by May 2024.
Reported by Musase Cheyo
