Chivundiko Tigwirizane Irrigation scheme members in Traditional Authority (T/A) Wasambo in Karonga District have commended Karonga Diocese through the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) for supporting them with a solar powered irrigation equipment which they say is a game changer.
In an interview on Friday after a monitoring tour the Diocese organised for its key partner, Karonga District Council, the irrigation scheme’s chairperson Joddie Nyirenda said the scheme will enable farmers cultivate twice per year, a situation which will ensure food and security in the area.
“In the past, we were only depending on rain fed agriculture. However, with this solar-powered irrigation scheme, we will be able to cultivate two or three times a year. This will end hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
“Additionally, the project has taught us soil and land conservation methods to check effects of climate change. They have given us a water pump, a borehole and solar panels. On top of that, each member was given 2 kilogrammes (kg) of maize seeds, 10kg of NPK and 10kg Urea fertiliser.”
Apart from enhancing new farming and environment conservation, the project is also constructing 21 houses for the aged and vulnerable in the area and an evacuation centre that can accommodate 60 families as a disaster risk management, water, sanitation and hygiene by drilling six boreholes.
One of the housing scheme project beneficiaries Symon Mbewe expressed joy with the newly constructed house, saying it has provided safe shelter for him and his family of six.
“This is a timely intervention. My old house was a death trap and could have collapsed with this rainy season,” he said.
In an interview, Karonga District Council acting director of planning and development Khumbo Mkandawire applauded CADECOM for implementing the transformative project.
She said: “It is a sustainable project that is supporting people’s resilience, livelihood through irrigation farming that is checking food and income security.
“We are happy that the project is also tackling climate change issues, disaster risk management through construction of houses and evacuation centres and management of natural resources.
On his part, Karonga Diocese Cadecom Meal Coordinator Deodatus Muliya said the project focused on thematic areas such as livelihood, wash and resilience of the community through disaster risk management by planting 115 000 trees, soil conservation and winter cropping.
He said: “If the community cultivates twice per year, they will be food and income secure. And again, we are promoting safe homes through construction of four out of the targeted 21 houses and an evacuation centre because this is a disaster-prone area.
“We are also drilling boreholes to enhance access of potable water as well as manure making and forest conservation”.
With funding from Scottish Government, through DAI Global UK, CADECOM Karonga is implementing a project called Climate Just Communities in T/A Wasambo in the district.
