by Felix Malamula
Malawi leader, President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera says what he has seen at Marko Irrigation Scheme in Chitipa is a clear sign that the Malawi 2063 vision can truly be realized.
“This scheme is showing that the Malawi 2063 vision is being realised and I can see that with this scheme, the recent drought did not have any effect. The fields are also encouraging,” President Chakwera.
The President was speaking when he visited the irrigation scheme which is at Ifumbo in the area of Senior Traditional Authority Mwaulambya in the district.
He said people from other areas need to learn from the people of Ichinga, who he said are determined to use farming to improve their socio-economic well-being.
“I am happy to learn that farmers benefitting from the scheme are taking good care of it. We also need good warehousing for the crops,” added President Chakwera.
At Marko, President Chakwera visited the night storage water reservoir, one of the hydrants and food displays under the project’s nutrition subcomponent.
Marko Irrigation Scheme is one of the six schemes that PRIDE has already constructed and handed over to farmers for use. Farmers have already grown and harvested their first crops.
The other schemes are: Mafinga in the same district, Mlooka and Matoponi in Zomba, Lingoni in Machinga and Wowo in Phalombe district. Currently, two schemes – Mzenga in Nkhata Bay and Chipofya in Rumphi – are under construction.
The visit to Marko came a day after the President visited Wovwe Irrigation Scheme in Karonga. PRIDE has rehabilitated the 700-hectare Wovwe Irrigation Scheme, bringing back to full its production capacity.