By GLORIA SIWISHA
140 households in Chief Sairi’s chiefdom of Chipata District, Eastern province, are set for improved livelihoods following the establishment of a modern solar-powered irrigation scheme aimed at promoting year-round production of high-value crops and strengthening resilience against climate change.
The five-hectare irrigation scheme, located in Magugu Village of Chankhonzi Agricultural camp, is a World Bank supported initiative which was established by the Ministry of Agriculture, working in partnership with the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA).
Speaking on behalf of beneficiary households, Headman Magugu described the initiative as transformative, adding that it was a major step towards increasing the production of high-value crops in the area.
He said the facility would help communities shift from vulnerable rain-fed agriculture to more reliable farming systems.
“This is an unprecedented development in our area. Previously, people depended on small vegetable gardens along seasonal streams, which were often destroyed by livestock and affected by water shortages. This irrigation scheme is well-secured with a wire-fence, solar-powered, and fitted with drip-irrigation technology, making it possible for farmers to produce crops sustainably throughout the year,” he said.
Headman Magugu urged beneficiaries to safeguard the infrastructure to ensure communities continue benefiting from the investment for many years.
Chairperson of the Magugu Irrigation Scheme, Kububa Shawa, said the irrigation scheme comprises 22 plots, benefiting 44 smallholder farmers directly, many of whom were now producing high-value horticultural crops for the market.
He said the beneficiaries were cultivating crops such as tomatoes, cabbage, okra, broccoli, cucumbers, garlic, green beans, and rape,
which were expected to generate higher incomes compared to traditional rain-fed crops.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has supported us from the beginning of the project in 2025, through training in vegetable production and provision of start-up inputs such as seed, fertilizer, pesticides, and spraying equipment. Production officially commenced in March this year,” Mr Shawa said.
He said the project would significantly improve household incomes, food security, and nutrition among vulnerable communities, while also enabling families to meet other essential needs, including education for their children.
Meanwhile, Chipata District Agricultural Officer – Irrigation, Rodrick Tembo, said the Ministry of Agriculture, through the District Agricultural Coordinator’s Office, established the facility as a climate-smart agriculture (CSA) model village and demonstration site, to serve as a learning centre for resilient agricultural practices.
Mr Tembo, who is also the project engineer, explained that the initiative seeks to strengthen farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change, improve agricultural productivity and water-use efficiency, promote sustainable land management, and strengthen agricultural value chains.
He said the facility would also support sustainable livelihood options for smallholders through the adoption of CSA technologies
“The irrigation scheme sits on a five- hectare piece of land. So far, about two hectares have been fenced, while a 1.3-hectare drip irrigation-based vegetable production site has already been established and operationalised. The remaining land has been earmarked for agroforestry activities. This approach is expected to showcase innovative practices that can enhance productivity and sustainability in the region’s agriculture,” he said.
He further disclosed that the scheme was supported by two boreholes and an ablution block equipped with showers and sanitary facilities, with construction works currently at 95 percent.
“We thank CCARDESA for facilitating the establishment of the pilot site,” he said.
CCARDESA is a subsidiary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), established in 2010 by member states, to coordinate agricultural research and development efforts across Southern Africa.
Its support towards establishing a solar-powered irrigation facility in Chipata is expected to reduce operational costs for beneficiaries, while promoting environmentally friendly farming practices.
The Magugu irrigation scheme, also aligns with Zambia’s broader transformation agenda, under which the Government aims to place an additional 500,000 hectares of land under irrigation by 2031.-NAIS
