by Felix Malamula
The southern part of Malawi has been heavily hit by the prolonged dry spells. The dry spells have seen various crops wilting due to the incessant heat, dashing the hopes of many farmers in the process.
Farmers at Mlooka in Traditional Authority Nkapita’s area in Zomba under the Masaula Extension Planning Area (EPA) are not spared by the drought. They have seen their promising crops succumb to the pangs of the dry spells.
But unlike farmers from other areas, farmers at Mlooka are still hopeful, thanks to the irrigation facility that Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (PRIDE), a project under the Department of Irrigation has put up in the area.
Mlooka Irrigation Scheme, constructed and handed over to farmers late 2023, is set to aid the farmers efforts in fighting hunger and improving their livelihoods. Today, the scheme is a busy sight as farmers work tirelessly to plant their crops for irrigation.
“The rains have failed but we are not worried,” says Asante Ndomondo, one of the farmers. “We have a scheme that will help us realise our dreams,” she adds.
The farmers have already planted rice which is the main crop that they have chosen to be planting during the irrigation cycle with maize as the other crop.
Ndomondo, who is also the president of the Water Users Association (WUA) is optimistic that with irrigation, her area will be transformed. “Hunger will be the story of the past because with irrigation, we feel in control as we will no longer stress over availability of water for our crops,” she adds.
The 156-hectare Mlooka Irrigation Scheme has about 520 farming households that are expected to be benefiting from the scheme.
Drought or no drought, the scheme is assured of the steady supply of water, thanks to the evergreen Shire River which is the supplier of water. For the farmers, the prospects of improved livelihoods are very high.
And planning ahead, farmers at Mlooka have already organized themselves into a cooperative. Through this cooperative, they hope to organize themselves and grow their crops beyond consumption.
“We have already started identifying markets where we can sell our rice. Right now, our priority is to grow for food but we know that we will get more yields that we will also be able to sell,” says Trizah Matiasi. Vice chairperson of the cooperative.