A team of PRIDE officials undertook a visit to appreciate the progress implementation of projects under Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund (MICF) has registered.
PRIDE, through International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) is funding MICF through the Irrigation Window.
The visit took the team to Corran Farms in Mangochi, Kasito Irrigation Scheme in Mzimba, “FISD My Farm” in Karonga and Kaombe Irrigation Scheme in Nkhotakota.
Corran Farms is currently setting up a crocodile farm which will be using grey water from the farming operations for irrigation. Mawelera Enterprise is working on putting up a solar power-powered irrigation scheme that will also combine gravity irrigation systems, allowing farmers to grow crops during dry season at Kasito River Valley.
In Karonga, Foundation for Irrigation Development “FISD My Farm” aims to set up a solar-powered irrigation scheme for private commercial farmers who are willing to set up an in-grower model while at Kaombe in Nkhotakota FISD is revitalize the scheme by installing new water pump station powered by solar energy to secure combination of ground and surface water which will then be distributed across 10 hectares of smallholder land.
Kenneth Mwakasungula, lead farmer and Chairperson of Nanyondo Farming Club in Karonga praised the project expressing hope that it will help the farmers grow crops.
Mwakasungula requested for more knowledge in the maintenance of irrigation pumps. “FISD is always here to assist when the pumps break down. But we would love if we could have the capacity to repair them ourselves,” he said.
PRIDE Project Coordinator Munday Makoko encouraged the farmers in all the project sites to work hard stressing that the projects are for their own benefits. Apart from irrigation window, MICF is also into agriculture, finance, manufacturing and tourism.