By Steve Chirombo:
In the heart of Dedza in Group Village Head Mwanzimba’s area under Traditional Authority Kaphuka lies the Malindima Irrigation Scheme, a 22.5-hectare agricultural project with the potential to expand to 40 hectares.
Since its inception in 2018, the scheme has empowered 103 farmers, transforming their lives and livelihoods.
As witnessed recently, during a field day, the farmers are into cassava, mangoes, guavas, oranges with a focus on Irish potato.
The communities had established it as an irrigation scheme around 1990s but it did not bring the much-desired results up until 2018 when Self Help Africa (SHA) intervened under its project on Achieving Sustainable Poverty Reduction through Increased Inclusive Resilience and Empowerment (Aspire) with support from the Embassy of Ireland.
Today, the story is different and there are tears of joy on most faces of the farmers under Malindima Irrigation Scheme.
Ikirifi Kambali is only 24 years old and is one of the members of the cooperative. He recounts the success he has registered thus far.
“I was able to buy goats after selling my produce in the first year (2020), cattle in the second year (2021), built a house in the third year (2022), and purchased a motorbike in the fourth year (2023). I expect to buy a vehicle this year,” he said.
He commended SHA for the support saying through the canals that were constructed at the site, farmers find it easy to irrigate their crops and that it is cost-effective.
He went on to advise his fellow youths to stop looking down on themselves.
“We start small and grow big. All we need to do is to stop being lazy and start working hard,” Kambali said.
Lebian Sefas, another beneficiary, shared his success story.
He constructed a house and quarters in 2019, bought goats and chickens in 2020, built another quarters in 2021, and purchased a dairy cow in 2022.
“I also ventured into beekeeping, with five beehives producing 40-60 liters of honey. All these from the scheme,” he said.
According to Sefas, a litre of honey gives him K6, 000 translating to total sales of around K360, 000 which he uses to purchase farm inputs and also helping his children’s education.
He too hailed SHA and government extension workers for the support not only at the irrigation scheme but also instilling in them expertise in modern farming.
Boston Mwase, Secretary of the Malindima Irrigation Scheme, emphasised the importance of diversifying crops.
“Our secret is to have a variety of crops planted here so that we stand better in markets. We have food and are also economically empowered through the scheme.
“The support from SHA has seen an improvement in our living standards through food and good housing as well as sending our children to school on top of having livestock. The scheme is keeping each one of us busy than indulging in things that can negatively affect our lives,” said Mwase.
However, Mwase said for sustainability’s sake, they have a bank account to which they deposit annual membership fees which goes towards maintenance of the scheme.
The scheme’s success can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of SHA, the government, and the farmers themselves.
Barton Mwale, SHA’s Food Security and Resilient Coordinator, expressed delight at the work farmers at Malindima Irrigation Scheme are doing.
He said his organisation works to promote and complement the government’s vision and that of the Ministry of Agriculture.
“We have seen the irrigation farming these farmers are doing which is one of the activities that complement agriculture production instead of depending only on rain fed agriculture. These are things we expect,” he said.
According to Mwale, for all this to be achieved, it took an initiative to train the farmers. The farmers also contributed 20 percent of the investment that was needed to have the scheme running.
Among others, SHA provided the farmers with cement and artisans that constructed the scheme.
“These are the results that we have seen that the farmers are now able to stand on their own. They are able to build houses, buy livestock, which is a good thing.
“And we have seen a young man who says is ready to buy a 3 tonne vehicle after selling his Irish potato this year, a thing that we appreciate. We can as well see that farming is bringing an impact upon this area and even young people are taking an initiative to take farming as business so that they can help in their day to day life,” he said.
Mwale further appealed to farmers to ensure that environmental conservation is sustained. He said one cannot talk about agriculture without conserving the environment.
“For water to be used for irrigation, these people need to harvest it during the rainy season. Thus why we are saying they need to promote conservation measures so that during dry season like this one, they will be able to use it for irrigation,” he said.
Shira Kang’ombe, Lilongwe Agriculture Development Division (ADD’s) Programs Manager noted the scheme’s contribution to achieving the MW2063 vision.
“SHA’s intervention complements government efforts, promoting agricultural production and food security. From a look of things here, there is indeed a good working relationship between SHA and government towards achieving the MW2063.
“We have today witnessed the activities these farmers are doing to ensure they plant their crops and harvest others for sale while keeping some for household use which we also advocate as Ministry of Agriculture,” she said.
Kang’ombe said government reaches out to every farmer in its interventions but due to inadequate staff, it becomes a bit easy when other stakeholders like SHA implement similar interventions.
According to Kang’ombe, lack of markets for farmers is due to an oversight that comes in before planting particular crops.
“Farmers should know where to sale their crops but even if that is the case, as a ministry we provide agribusiness trainings which enable them to do market research before planting a particular crop.
“They can even reach out to shops, supermarkets just to check on the need, then go back to their farm to do what the market demands them. We will therefore join hands with SHA to train the farmers and also make them be in groups to work as cooperatives to enable them do their farming as business,” indicated Kang’ombe.
Dedza District Council chairperson, Stanley Manase, commended SHA’s support as having enhanced farming techniques.
He promised to keep linking up with various NGOs and government to ensure the spread of the interventions to other areas within the district.
Manase reminded the farmers that climate change is real, hence the need to diversify their farming methods from rain-fed to irrigation.—Mana
