Mai Aisha Construct 19 Irrigation Schemes in Blantyre and Mangochi.

Mai Aisha Construct 19 Irrigation Schemes in Blantyre and Mangochi.

In the year 2020 Mai Aisha Trust (MAT) has managed to develop nineteen (19) irrigation schemes in Blantyre and Mangochi districts.15 irrigations schemes  in Blantyre (Namende, Felo, Chithimba, ChikalemaExtension,Chimwavi,Kanyola,Mafonde,Mikorongwe,Mikorongwe, Nasundu Extension, Tiyanjane Extension,  Mpeka, Ntayamwana, Mwamphazi, Kaliya and Mizembe) and 4 in Mangochi (Mbuyemwana,Masivila,Masuku and Mikundi Extension ) with the donor support from a UK based Charity Organisation, Drop of Compassion (DOC). More than 2,000 farmers are benefiting from these irrigation schemes. Before the development of these schemes in the districts, Small Scale Farmers were using buckets to irrigate their crops which was not an easy task. But now farmers are happy after the Mai Aisha Trust (MAT) in partnership with Drop of Compassion came to their rescue. Due to climate change, Irrigation farming has been proved to be very reliable since it is the only major long term solution to sustainable food production.

Most common crops grown by farmers include: 

  1. Maize 
  2. Cassava 
  3. Ground Nuts 
  4. Vegetables 
  5. Beans 
  6. Sweet potatoes 

Problems Faced Before

Below are some of the challenges farmers were facing before the construction of the scheme:

  1. Farmers were using buckets to irrigate their crops
  2. They were using earth canals to direct water to their crops which promotes soil erosion.

How Things Have Changed after the development of the scheme

  1. Soil Erosion has been minimized
  2. Irrigating crops will be easy now since the use of concrete canals.
  3. The community is food secured and there is economic enhancement.
  4. Community is able to cultivate on a big land and high yields will be realized.

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