Cooperatives Poised to Benefit from Shire Valley Transformation Programme
The project is expected to benefit 48,400 farming households, potentially revolutionising agricultural productivity in the region.
LILONGWE, Malawi— Three agricultural cooperatives are set to begin utilising water from the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) by June 2025, marking a significant milestone in the project's development, writes Pemphero Mpho Musowa.
Adrian Masebo, Agriculture Commercialisation Specialist, reported substantial progress on the infrastructure, with 36.5 kilometres of the planned 52-kilometre main canal completed, representing 70% of the total project.
The initial phase will involve 13 cooperatives—11 focused on crop production and two on livestock—comprising a total of 16,175 members.
The program aims to transform agricultural practices through irrigation and commercialisation, promoting sustainable farming and market access.
Robert Makion, Chairperson of Mwanaalirenji Cooperative, expressed optimism about the project's potential.
"We have received training on value addition and in the future, plan to start processing our produce to fetch higher prices," Makion said.
The SVTP's overall goal is ambitious: irrigating 43,370 hectares of land, with 10,656 hectares currently under development.
The project is expected to benefit 48,400 farming households, potentially revolutionising agricultural productivity in the region.
Masebo emphasised that the initiative will enable farmers to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices and access more lucrative markets, representing a significant step towards agricultural transformation in Malawi.