Napoleon Dzombe for serious irrigation, diversification to end hunger
Philanthropist Napoleon Dzombe says he plans to roll out various irrigation projects in the country as one way of ending the problem of hunger and food insecurity.
Dzombe, who is the Group Chairman of Mtalimanja Holdings Limited (MHL, was speaking in an interview with Nyasa Times when asked for his views on how lives of Malawians in rural areas who depend on tobacco can be transformed now that the crop is facing an uncertain future.
MHL, which is originally based in Nkhotakota, has rice milling and sugar manufacturing plants.
A couple of months ago the government of the United States of America banned all tobacco imports from Malawi saying minors are also involved in the cultivation of Malawi’s Green Gold which according to them is illegal.
The call has also come at a time when anti tobacco lobbyists have also upped the tempo to discourage
Said Dzombe: “It is sad that tobacco is facing a myriad of challenges and this will mean that many Malawians in rural areas will no longer have money in their pockets. To counter this problem there is need to come up with deliberate policies which will help the rural farmers make ends meet. Irrigation is one of them and diversification is another.”
According to Dzombe he has deliberately introduced paddy and banana farming at his SAFI farm in Madisi, Dowa to show the farmers that the crops can be grown in all parts of the country.
“I have sank a huge dam at Nzeru za Abambo farm which can hold 1 million litres of water and through gravity farmers will be able to irrigate their fields all year round. Apart from that I will also introduce fish farming, poultry farming, dairy farming and horticulture for sale in our major towns and the proceeds will go back to farmers,” added Dzombe.
An agriculture expert said such initiative are good and need to be fully supported.
The expert, however, said that more time will be needed to gauge the impact of this vision and how practical this is going to be in the long term.
“There is need to draw up a road map to see how the ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Water Development can be taken on board and people who are bringing in such initiatives need to supported. This is very ok and it’s the way of go. Mind you this has been said before but we need to be more serious so that it should not end up by being just mere rhetoric,” said the expert.
However an official from the Tobacco Control Commission recently downplayed the impact of the decision by the American government saying tobacco is still a viable crop which cannot easily be substituted in the country.
Meanwhile, Dzombe has announced that Mpamantha Rice Factory in Nkhota Kota is going to start processing paddy next week and those interested to purchase the produce should contact the company.
Mpamantha is one of the biggest rice factories in this part of Africa.
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He.(Dr Napoleon Dzombe ) is a visionary and he’s actions on projects he undertakes are accompanied with fruits that rural dweller’s rip the benefits from long live ND
It is sad that the so called learned pple with Phds are failing to do such developments. Then why specialize in the first place? It’s action time now.
Love hearing good news like this it makes you feel like there is still good in the world
Here is a practical person doing what experts at Agriculture Ministry are failing. Have you heard of Dzombe failing? No. Yet there is this unnamed agriculture expert questioning Dzombe when he himself has nothing to show for his knowledge
You think these people are ignorant of what needs to be done.
They know that if this is fixed there will be no more kupempha in the name of hunger.
Aid money azimanga nyumb. Kuba basi.
Greatest man of honour that has ever inhabited Malawian soil. His is not just rhetorical speech but action oriented. I salute you the first time I saw your School of Agriculture for Family Indepence (SAFI) deep in Madisi.
And here is a man takingover the functions of the ministry of agriculture because the government only cares about fsip…. Bwana dzombe tiphuoeni kwa a satana awa
The truth is that most African countries that have developed have not developed because of the government’s but rather the mindset of its citizens. if Malawi had more people like him, it would develop. We need to face the truth about our politicians and stop putting our hope in them because they are all greedy but rather as citizens, we need to transform out minds and change our country for the better.
Governments elsewhere DO set the agenda, apart from Africa of course. The results of which we all know.
Governments can set the agenda for the country but not your household. Mr Dzombe is doing well IN MALAWI. Under changing governments. Why can’t we do the same?. it’s a mindset issue.
Shame another expert say.. We have first to gauge and see the impact…
Stupidity at its best.. Zochedwetsa
This is great news. We need to support this initiative with Malawi government inclusive.
great
Bravo! Dzombe! I salute your works and ukutiphweketsera agriculture here at SAFI and the sorounding areas.