Some farmers under the Mafinga irrigation scheme at Chisenga, in Senior Chief Mwenewenya, Chitipa District, have applauded the government for constructing an irrigation scheme that they say has helped them become food secure and economically empowered.
Farmer, Jane Mtambo, said she cultivated 0.1 hectare pieces (quarter acre) of land where she harvested 1000 kilogrammes (one ton) of maize.
“I cultivated two pieces of land at the irrigation scheme. On a 0.1-hectare piece of land, I harvested one ton and earned almost K1 million. The other 0.1 I have also harvested and kept for home consumption,” Mtambo said.
Chitipa District Irrigation Officer Brino White said that farmers are now able to harvest more from a small piece of land, such as 0.1 hectares, because of the proper farming technology training they have acquired.
“Mafinga Irrigation scheme is yielding the desired results because on the same piece of land the farmers used to grow their crops once. They are now growing twice or more from the same piece of land, and those that do not have land for rain-fed farming are accessing pieces of land during the irrigation period for them to grow their desired crops,” White said.
The K1 billion Mafinga irrigation Scheme was constructed by the Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (PRIDE) project with funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development
PRIDE project started constructing the Mafinga Irrigation Scheme in Chitipa District in May 2022 as one way of eradicating hunger in the district and country as a whole.
By Aliko Munde, MANA
