MANGOCHI-(MaraviPost)-The implementation of much awaited Least Developed Countries Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR) project has brought excitement among locals at Traditional Authority (T.A) Nankumba, Monkebay in the lakeshore district of Mangochi with the hope to avert food crisis through rehabilitation of nine hectares of Ang’ona irrigation scheme.
With the value of MK129 million, the rehabilitation scheme project runs for 120 days from July 2024 that over 93 households at Mkudochete village under Group Village Headman (GVH) Sumbi in Monkebay will start reaping the fruits by the end of this year, 2025.
Visiting the site the past weeks, the progress of the scheme rehabilitation brought hope among locals as minor soil conservation initiatives have already been done including planting of vetiver grasses, canals re-alignment and others.
Village Headman Mkudochete expressed optimism that once scheme rehabilitation is completed it will allow his subjects to cultivate a variety of food crops for both commercial and consumption.
“It’s been years since this scheme has been idle when the area has a reliable source of water for irrigation farming. My subjects are eager to grow crops to feed their families throughout the year.
“We are very committed to look after the scheme as we have already started conservation activities including vetiver grasses and trees planting around the scheme,” assures VH Mkudochete.
Echoing the same, Scheme’s village committee chairperson Martha Moyo said they will make use of the initiative to improve their livelihoods.
“We expect to cultivate enough rice, maize, and bananas for both selling and consumption. Will be able to support our families and send children to good schools,” optimistic Moyo.
Mangochi District Commissioner (DC) Davis Chigwenembe assured Monkebay communities that the council is meeting the deadline of the scheme’s rehabilitation.
“The Ang’ona scheme rehabilitation work is at 50% including re-alignment of canals, pipes and solar panels installation. We expect by the end of this year, communities will be able to use the scheme for food production in full scale,” assures Chigwenembe.
According to Program Manager for LIFE-AR in the Environmental Affairs Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Eddah Lijoni Jere, the project is being implemented in three districts including Mangochi, Salima and Rumphi.
The project aims at driving sustainable, country-led solutions that protect communities and ecosystems from climate risks.
Malawi joined LIFE-AR at COP25 (2019), consequently launched the project on November 28, 2022 for ten years till 2031.
Therefore Malawi is one of frontrunner countries to implement the LDC 2050 Vision through LIFE-AR targeting 15,000 households by 2031.
The project focuses on six interventions towards communities’ livelihoods including forestation, aquaculture, village savings and loans, greenhouse farming, irrigation and access to clean water.
LIFE-AR is in the interim hosted by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and supported by the UK International Development from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Irish Aid, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada and the US Department of State
