The African Development Bank (AfDB) has provided a $28 million funding towards the second phase of the Shire Valley Transformation Project (SVTP).
AfDB Malawi Country Manager, MacMillan Anyanwu, said the SVTP is crucial for Malawi’s prosperity as it will create jobs and support the mega-farms agenda, which is important for food security.
“The first phase was primarily to invest in irrigation canals and taking care of the environment. Although not all have been fulfilled, it’s an ongoing work, and progress made so far is satisfactory,” he said in Blantyre during the project’s second phase launch.
Director of Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture, Geoffrey Mwepa, said irrigation will also feature highly under the SVTP this year.
“By the end of 2024, 1300 hectares will be under irrigation courtesy of this project. The launch of phase two today means we are extending irrigation land,” Mwepa said.
SVTP phase two is a joint launch because AfDB has funded the Rumphi Water and Sanitation Services Improvement Project.
Under the project, the Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) will rehabilitate and improve the water supply in Rumphi District.
NRWB Chief Executive Officer, Francis Munthali, said the Board is excited with the project.
“This Project will empower NRWB to extend its water supply to many parts of the district. It is quite an extensive project where we envisage to lay over 321 Kilometres of distribution pipes to reach out to many Rumphi residents,” he said.
The second phase of the SVTP will run for five years.
By Kondwani Chinele.
