Bishop of Zomba Diocese of the Catholic Church, Rt. Rev. Alfred Chaima, has urged people in the country to take on irrigation farming as a tool for eliminating hunger.
Bishop Chaima made the remarks after visiting Namitembo Farm where the diocese practices both rain-fed and irrigation farming in a bid to promote a self-reliant church.
According to Chaima, rain-fed agriculture alone cannot solve the hunger problem that many households continue to face in the country, hence the need to embrace and promote irrigation farming.
“It is sad to note that many communities in the country experience acute food shortage despite having several water sources and arable land that can be used for maize and rice cultivation,” observed Chaima.
The bishop also emphasised that irrigation is one of the notable solutions to the hunger crisis especially in the wake of unpredictable rainfall in the country occassioned by climate change.
He particularly encouraged people living around Lake Chilwa, major rivers and dams in Zomba to take advantage of the water to grow crops twice or several times in a year to achieve food security.
Namitembo Farm of Zomba Diocese grows crops such as maize, bananas, vegetables and many more.
Besides growing crops, the farm also keeps animals such as cattle, goats and pigs, and engages in beekeeping.
