Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale has said the government needs K5 billion to rehabilitate cyclone-damaged schemes under Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (Pride).
Kawale said this over the weekend when he visited schemes under the programme in Phalombe, Machinga and Zomba districts.
Kawale said the damage the cyclone caused is huge and will delay progress of the programme.
“If we invest a lot of money in irrigation farming, there is a likelihood that our production level will increase. It means we will worry less about floods or drought because we will have a continuous supply of water,” Kawale said.
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One of the contractors, Fisd, said following the devastation, some designs of the irrigation scheme have been changed.
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One of the company’s directors Frank Mwenechanya said the firm has resubmitted the plan which can withstand floods.
“We are now using submersible sewage pumps which are strong and can withstand floods. Solar panels were supposed to be on the ground but they are four meters above the ground, which means that, even in times of floods, they will be safe,” Mwenechanya said.
Pride is a $80.4 million worth Government of Malawi irrigation development project under the Department of Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture. It is being funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Development and the government.
Pride aims to develop 3,200 hectares of irrigated land and 12,300 hectares of rain-fed land to benefit about 950,000 households.
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President for Mlooka Irrigation Scheme in Zomba Asante Ndomondo said, once done, the schemes will help in food security because the district can manage to produce crops three times a year.
