Government said plans are underway to intensify solar power irrigation in all potential irrigable areas along Lake Malawi. Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Allan Chiyembekeza told reporters in the capital Lilongwe that the initiative was part of the country’s first-ever Irrigation and Investment Master plan which seeks to irrigate over 100,000 hectares in the next 20 years.

“We would like to make sure that solar irrigation system is being carried in all Lake Shore areas to improve the country’s food basket which currently has been affected by natural disasters like dry spells and floods,” he said.

He said issues of hunger can be averted if the country shifts from depending on rain fed agriculture and intensifies on irrigation in all irrigable areas along the lake and rivers.

However, according to Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) report, this year alone, Malawi has over 2 million people in need of food.

Source: StarAfrica