OVER THOUSAND FARMERS TO BENEFIT FROM IRRIGATION SCHEME

Over three hundred farmers in Dedza district stand to benefit from the construction of a forty million kwacha irrigation scheme in the district.

Windu Irrigation Scheme, situated forty kilometers from the district headquarters, is part of government’s drive to rehabilitate and construct about fifteen irrigation schemes countrywide.

Deeply disturbed with hunger in their area, people of Mkumphira village, in Traditional Authority Kasumbu in Dedza district joined hands in 2002 to form Windu Irrigation Scheme.

According to the scheme’s chairperson, Mr. Chigawo Makanani, the group has been facing a lot of challenges since then.

The biggest challenge has been water.

Mr. Makanani says that due to water problem, the farmers were not harvesting enough to last them the whole year.

But, according to Dedza Irrigation Officer, Mr. Dominic Banda, the water problem will now be history, thanks to the Irrigation, Rural Livelihood and Agriculture Development-IRLAD scheme development project.

Mr. Banda says that, through the project, farmers will be provided with technical assistance to maximize the profit of the forty-two hectare irrigation scheme.

The three hundred and three farmers grow maize, cassava, beans and other crops, and hope that the new scheme will boost their crop production.

Windu Irrigation Scheme, situated forty kilometers from Dedza district headquarters, is part of government’s drive to rehabilitate and construct about fifteen irrigation schemes countrywide.

The scheme will be completed in eight months’ time.