Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, Charles Kalemba has said that the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) is committed to end food insecurity in all disaster prone districts.
Speaking when he toured four irrigation schemes which are under rehabilitation after they were completely destroyed by cyclone Anna and Idai in Nsanje district, Kalemba said irrigation farming has potential to make the district food secure.
“It high time we end these annual food shortages if all the fertile areas of Nsanje and Chikwawa district are utilized to grow food through irrigation,” said Kalemba.
Kalemba explained that if there is food at house hold level and at district council level, issue of food insecurity will no longer be counted as part of disasters.
“We are focusing on programs that will bring self-reliance among vulnerable population in disaster prone districts through the use of irrigation farming that is powered by solar energy,” said Kalemba.
District Commissioner for Nsanje Dr Medson Machaya commended DoDMA for actualizing the irrigation scheme projects.
“The only solution to our problem of food shortage that are either caused by dry spells or floods is to use irrigation as main method of crop production, we are happy that Dodma through its Donors has so far renovated and upgraded at least four irrigation schemes which are going to make a big impact,” said Machaya.
Machaya explained that the District Council wishes to have at least five irrigation schemes in each Traditional authority area in the district as a way of achieving food security.
“Irrigation is the way to go so as a Council we are working on ambitious plan to ensure that that at least each T/A has five irrigation schemes and also utilize Shire Valley Transformation Project irrigation Canal which will reach some parts of the district,” said Machaya
Chairperson Chimwala-Mbangu Irrigation, one of the rehabilitated scheme which is functional, Give more Zambasa said within the four months of its operational farmers have managed to harvest the first winter crop which has serve to ease food shortages within the area.
“Bring this scheme back to life is a big blessing to farmers around the area as you can see we are currently harvesting our maize and now we have food, we can no longer wait for government to give us free food,” said Zambasa.
Zambasa said that only if government provide the necessary resources to the people, the people are ready to work and provide for themselves.
“With proper assistance like the rehabilitation of the scheme communities have been empowered to grow crops and become food sufficient and also to earn some income, this just demonstrates that if such opportunities are provided to many, dependency on hand outs will soon become old fashioned,” said Zambasa.
Zambasa explained that the scheme seats on 200 hectares of land of which only 120 hectares are currently being utilized.
DoDMA is rehabilitating the irrigation schemes with funding from African Development Bank(ADB) under Post Cyclone Idai Emergency Recovery Project
