Farmers of Mlambe Cooperative in Traditional Authority Katunga in Chikwawa says the Shire Valley Transformation Programme project will improve their livelihoods as it will help the communities into commercial farming.
The cooperatives have been established along the areas where the project canals will be passing through Chikwawa to Nsanje.
Mlambe Cooperative Chairperson Arnold Chiutsi Phiri told ProjectM that people in the area are commending the government for implementing the multi-billion kwacha project.
He described the project will help to transform the two districts once completed.
Chiutsi Phiri said the project is in line with the desire of the people to enhance their socio-economic development as well as food secure.
“The communities want to increase agricultural productivity and turned into commercial farming,” he said.
The chairperson also said they be able to plant crops at least twice or three times a year because they will have access to a reliable source of water rather than depending on rain-fed farming.
A member of the cooperatives, Peter Kusedo said the project has empowered to start doing commercial farming as water will be flowing throughout the year.
He said the locals have been trained in many areas such as business management, marketing just to name but a few.
“Mlambe Cooperative is among the 9 out of 13 Smallholders Owned Commercial Farm Enterprises (SOCFES),” said Kusedo.
Mlambe Cooperative, established in 2019, has 1,177 hectares with a membership of 2009 of which 1,009 are females while 1,000 are males.
