World Bank approves K121bn to transform  Malawi’s irrigated agriculture

The World Bank has approved $166 million (about K121.8 billion at current exchange rate) to transform Malawi’s agricultural productivity through irrigation, lay the foundations for commercialization, and improve management of natural resources in the Shire Valley.

Minister of Agriculture Mwanamvekha and his PS Erica Maganga sharing notes: Rewards for the program will be transformational for Malawi’s agriculture and the national economy.- Photo by Roy Nkosi

The financing, approved Thursday October 19th, 2017 by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors is for the first phase of the Shire Valley Transformation Program (SVTP-I).

The funding consists of a $160 million (about K117 billion) credit from the International Development Association (IDA), and a $5.59 million (about K4.1 billion) grant from the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Water Development, Joseph Mwanamveka said the rewards for the program will be transformational for Malawi’s agriculture and the national economy.

“The beauty of the whole program is that it will engage the smallholder farmers to modernize and commercialize agriculture. We ultimately anticipate a half billion-dollar benefit to the economy,” he said.

The whole program, which will cover the Chikwawa – Nsanje areas of the Shire Valley, is scheduled to have three phases over a 14-year period (2017-2031). Through this period, the program will provide irrigation to over 40,000 hectares by gravity water delivery, eliminating the need for electricity for pumping water from the Shire River.

The program will boost agricultural production, provide drinking water services, and improve sustainable management of natural resources including wetlands and protected areas, while enhancing tourism potential.

World Bank Acting Country Manager for Malawi, Valens Mwumvaneza said they trust that through the project, Malawi’s agriculture will go beyond the food security agenda to commercial agricultural investments that will sustainably pull people out of poverty.

He said the Bank estimates a radical improvement in income levels of beneficiary households by overcoming the main challenges of droughts and floods in the Shire Valley region.

SVTP-I will mainly deliver well-constructed, professionally managed, and financially sustainable irrigation services, and support services in agriculture, aquaculture and livestock production. It will help farmers secure land and water tenure, and assist them develop commercial farming.

In preparation for commercialization, the farmers will get support in land administration, farm organization, marketing, and access to financial services. The SVTP-I will also support diversification to crops other than sugarcane which the Shire Valley is well known for. This is expected to create more opportunities for agro-processing enterprises and traders.

Implementation of the project will be led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Water Development with other partners and agencies.  The SVTP-I is scheduled to close in 2023.

 

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Ndatopa ndi DPP
Ndatopa ndi DPP
6 years ago

All that money for CHikwawa-Nsanje shire valley only???? Seriously???

Zachisoni
Zachisoni
6 years ago

Good and at the same time sad news!!!! Once upon a time there was this called NADI !!! What happened with it and it’s main offices at Ngabu??????????????

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