Minister of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE), Mike Mposha, has commended the World Bank for its support under the Zambia Integrated Forestry Landscape Project (ZIFLP), which has established 21 Farmer-Led Irrigation Schemes (FLIS) to enhance food security and build resilience against the adverse effects of climate change among communities in eastern province.
Speaking during his visit to the Sinda Irrigation Scheme in Sinda District, Mr. Mposha expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress and was particularly impressed by the implementation of drip irrigation technology.
He emphasized that President Hakainde Hichilema has consistently encouraged a shift from traditional rain-fed agriculture to irrigation-based farming, highlighting it as a key strategy for ensuring national food security.
The Minister also informed the residents of Sinda Village that ZIFLP, which funded the scheme, has now transitioned into the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme (EP-JSLP).
Meanwhile, EP-JSLP Coordinator Mr. Noel Muchimba informed the Minister that the project has been implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to establish the FLIS.
He noted that the irrigation scheme targets 50 smallholder farmers, with each irrigation scheme managing a five-hectare plot.
“The five-hectare schemes include essential infrastructure such as drilled boreholes, solar-powered pumps, 20,000-litre water tanks, and efficient drip irrigation systems.”
And Sinda Irrigation Scheme Chairperson, Mr. Alimote Mwila, added that farmers are now able to grow crops year-round, regardless of rainfall patterns.
He revealed that each household was generating income ranging from K6,000 to K27,000 from crops such as tomatoes, beans, and okra.
However, Mr. Mwila also said the current two boreholes were insufficient to meet the water demands of the entire scheme and has since appealed for additional water infrastructure at the scheme.
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