Hichilema Launches Irrigation Scheme to End Farmers’ Dependence on Rainfall
President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned the Malombe Centre Pivot Irrigation Scheme in Sioma District, which is aimed strengthening climate-resilient agriculture and improving food security among small-scale farmers.
The 25-hectare irrigation facility, which draws water directly from the Zambezi River, is expected to provide reliable year-round farming for 73 households under the IMIKAYA Cooperative, reducing dependence on seasonal rainfall and improving household incomes.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, President Hichilema said the project reflects government’s commitment to promoting irrigated agriculture and modern farming systems capable of sustaining production despite climate-related challenges.
“I urge farmers to fully embrace the facility and benefit from the infrastructure,” the President said, while encouraging innovative approaches to ensure the long-term success of the scheme.
The irrigation system forms part of the Strengthening Climate Resilience of Agricultural Livelihoods in Agro-Ecological Regions I and II in Zambia (SCRALA) project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme, the Water Resources Management Authority, and the Zambia Meteorological Department.
The wider SCRALA project is being implemented across 16 districts in Eastern, Lusaka, Muchinga, Southern, and Western provinces and is expected to benefit approximately 940,000 people through climate-smart agriculture, improved water systems, market access, and climate information services.
Officials say the project is helping farmers adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns through conservation agriculture, early warning systems, and alternative income-generating activities such as fish farming, goat rearing, and beekeeping.
The initiative has also introduced bulking centres in districts including Kazungula, Mambwe, and Nyimba to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen market access for smallholder farmers.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme, Gregory Saili described the Malombe Irrigation Scheme as a practical example of how government, cooperating partners, communities, and the private sector can work together to strengthen resilience to climate change.
He said the investment forms part of a broader US$32 million programme supporting climate adaptation efforts in some of Zambia’s most vulnerable communities.
Meanwhile, IMIKAYA Cooperative Chairperson Ross Masiye expressed gratitude for the support received through the project, stating that the training and infrastructure had significantly transformed the livelihoods of local farmers.
The scheme is also backed by a Memorandum of Understanding involving the cooperative, government, UNDP, the Barotse Royal Establishment, and a private sector partner to ensure technical support, sustainability, and market access for participating farmers.
