World Bank commits towards Shire Valley Irrigation Project
World Bank has committed to support the Shire Valley Irrigation Scheme mega project whose implementation is also being supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
According to Director of Irrigation Services, Geoffrey Mamba, says the World Bank has provided US$6 million while the AfDB has contributed US$1.8 million towards various studies and other preparatory work of the project expected to cost US$640 million covering 42,000 hectares of land between Nsanje and Chikwawa districts.
Once implemented, the project will assist farmers in upper parts of Shire valley to practice irrigation farming consequently improving food security and economic status of rural masses.
Officials are currently carrying out a feasibility study with a hope to start the project in 2017.
But there have been some concerns from environmentalists that passing a canal through Majete game reserve will negatively affect natural resources including animals.
Project Technical team coordinator Rodrick Champiti insists that it is only a portion of two kilometers that will pass Majete thereby calling on people not to worry much.
Country Director of African Parks Patricio Ndadzera said that they will continue to support the project as long as there are mitigative measures appreciating already existing conservation projects.
Said Ndadzera: “People need also to remember that a lot was invested in Majete and that the game reserve is assisting in generating money for the country.”
Recently paramount Chief Lundu, Senior Chief Ngabu, T/A Maseya and others called on authorities to speed up the implementation of the project in order to promote food security at household level.
Who are these Environmentalists that really feel that passing a water canal through the National Park would have negative impacts? Do they take into account the co-benefits? Of course trade-offs will be there! Are these Environmentalists Malawians? Let us remove this type of politics from this Very Important Project. This project is one of the key solutions to food security not only to Chikwawa and Nsanje, but to the whole country. Even the animals in Majete National Park will also benefit from this project if we design it nicely. This is the type of projects which not only focus on… Read more »
From lower shire pls start the other projects here at chire north.We want water canal from shire to mgomwa passing zalimu and chitsa trading center