Hope for Nyasa farmers as govt revives eight irrigation schemes

Nyasa. The government plans to revive and develop eight irrigation schemes in Nyasa District, Ruvuma Region, to boost agricultural productivity and create jobs.

The eight schemes, totalling 8,395 hectares of suitable land for cultivation, currently have only 1,176 hectares under utilisation. The government aims to increase the utilisation rate and employ more farmers in the region.

The utilised land has employed 2,722 farmers, with the number expected to increase significantly upon the completion of the upgrading and development initiative.

The irrigation schemes and conducive irrigation land in brackets are: Lituhi (3,700 ha); Lundo (2,592 ha); Chiulu (800 ha) and Nyomboka (520 ha).

Others are Kimbande (253 ha); Nkalachi (250 ha); Kwambe (240 ha) and Ngingama (70 ha).

Addressing irrigation beneficiary farmers in Lundo village, Lipingo ward, in the district, the Agriculture Minister, Hussein Bashe, said the government is committed to developing all eight irrigation schemes to allow farmers efficient engagement in paddy production.

"The contractor has been found for the execution of the Sh25.4 billion project for the development of the 2,592 hectares project in the Lundo Irrigation Scheme, with the implementation expected to commence soon," he said.

He said the project implementation will involve the construction of water stoppages, canals, and roads, noting that the dam construction design has been completed.

Mr Bashe said the project will also involve the construction of 2.5 kilometres of the evacuation road passing through the Lundo village, as well as the Mawese Road construction.

"We will build evacuation roads without waiting for the Tanzania Rural Roads Agency (Tarura). It is illogical to execute a Sh25.4 billion project without involving the construction of reliable roads for crop transportation," he said.

He said the project implementation will involve the construction of a warehouse and a paddy processing machine to enable farmers to start trading rice instead of paddy.

The minister said once the project is completed, farmers will be arranged for better utilisation of the irrigation project and equal benefits for all.

"It's imperative that few farmers own many hectares of irrigated land, while others have no land for crop cultivation. Invested funds have been collected from different sources; therefore, every Tanzanian should equally benefit from the project," he said.

Furthermore, Mr Bashe expressed his hope that the completion of the feasibility study and designs would allow the recruitment of contractors before the country goes for the October 2025 general election.

Mr Bashe said he has directed the Tanzania Fertiliser Company (TFC) to open the fertiliser selling centre in the area for farmers to benefit from the government's subsidised fertilisers and therefore improve rop production.

The Nyasa Constituency Member of Parliament, Ms Stella Manyanya, said residents in the district are hard-workers whose efforts are hampered by poor development of irrigation infrastructure and unreliable roads and bridges.

“I had no answers to citizens regarding the chronic challenges of irrigation infrastructure. Your visit will probably shed light on resolving their challenges,” she said.

Ms Manyanya, who went down on the ground pleading for the minister to respond to citizens outcry, said existing challenges hindered agricultural development and increased rural poverty.

Speaking at the Kimbande Irrigation Scheme, Mr Bashe said the majority of beneficiaries were graduates, noting that its development would significantly address challenges facing the youth in the district.

Lipingo Ward agriculture officer, Ms Aveline Millanzi, told the visiting minister that hundreds of the residents in Lundo and Ngindo villages depended on the irrigation infrastructures for their agricultural activities.

The National Irrigation Commission (NIRC) in Ruvuma Region outlined six irrigation projects lined up for implementation in the district under the commission’s strategic plans.

NIRC names the projects, including the irrigation schemes in Lundo, Kimbande, Chiulu, Kwambe, Nyomboka and Lituhi.