Malawi government plans to repair irrigation schemes

Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe says government plans to rehabilitate irrigation schemes to enable farmers to double food production and help stabilise the economy.

In his budget review statement presented to Parliament last Friday, Gondwe said apart from food security, the irrigation projects are also expected to help stabilise the economy.

“The economy could remain stable even in the face of poor weather conditions should they recur in Malawi during the coming seasons,” said Gondwe.

Good told Parliament that government has also decided that the greenbelt irrigation infrastructure particularly in Salima, should be used by smallholder farmers to produce crops twice a year.

He said the programme will be supplemented by large estates that have agreed to produce food crops under irrigation which the government could buy and sell at subsidised prices.

Gondwe said the 2016/17 budget will include the required resource allocations for these projects