By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, August 17, mana: Chitipa District Council has asked Marko Irrigation Scheme farmers in Senior Chief Mwabulambya to take good care of the facility which has been constructed under PRIDE project as one way of fighting hunger in the district.

District Commissioner (DC) for Chitipa, McMillan Magomero made the call Thursday during partial handover of the K1.9 billion scheme to farmers.

Magomero said the irrigation scheme belongs to farmers hence the need to use the facility for the intended purpose.

"It is my appeal to farmers to use the facility and grow crops to promote food security in the area, district and the country as whole. There will be capacity building for the Water Users Association (WUA) and let's apply what we have learned on the ground," Magomero said.

Magomero asked the communities to refrain from cultivating along the river banks and also settling in its catchment areas.

"We don't need to tamper with the irrigation scheme catchment area. Because if we do that, the facility will have a short lifespan. We need to sustain the irrigation scheme by conserving the catchment and its green cover," he explained.

Senior Chief Mwabulambya thanked the Government of Malawi for constructing the scheme, which he said will promote food security and boost economic activities in his area.

"We are happy that from the word go we thought it would be impossible for the irrigation scheme to be completed on time but now it is possible. Our farmers will use the scheme this winter cropping, which is a plus to the district," he said.

One of the farmers, Abdala Milazi who is also WUA secretary, assured the government that they will use the facility for the intended purpose.

PRIDE project started constructing Marko Irrigation Scheme and K1 billion Mafinga Irrigation Scheme in Chitipa District in May, 2022 as one way of eradicating hunger in the country.