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Irrigation long overdue
By
Lufingo W. Mwafulirwa - 05-06-2002 |
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It is now beyond argument that Lake Malawi is one of the most important natural resources in the country. With no end in sight to the increasing population levels, I personally find this resource as the legitimate object for both individual and national development. My strong view is that the lake must not be ignored in resource planning efforts or even to be presumed to obey economic laws different from those that apply to other resources. Using Lake Malawi as an irrigation source may perhaps bail us out from he current uncertainty about our economic future.
The anti-smoking (anti-tobacco) banner, which is increasingly becoming global, is certainly putting Malawi under a leaking roof. This is so simply because tobacco has been and still is the back bone of our economy. This uncertainty has at least made us to think of probably venturing into other industries like mining, tourism and paprika. I am not particularly against any such ventures but rather offer alternative paths we try to drive to a self-reliance destination. President Bakili Muluzi and Minister of Agriculture Hon. Aleke Banda have both talked of Lake Malawi as a possible irrigation base. I hope then that with their direct involvement, monetary disabilities will not affect this dream.
Using Lake Malawi in the irrigation system may certainly boost our crop production potential for both consumption and export. In fact, volumes and volumes of valuable water ends up in the Zambezi day by day. Of course, this irrigation set-up will create optimum use of inputs such as fertiliser and high yielding crop varieties. Once again, there seems to be no end in sight to the increasing levels of our population despite the HIV/Aids scourge. This gives me a valuable clue that land will not be adequate for both settlement and farming activities.
Actually, the current data shows that our population is facing a land distribution problem. As the demand for land is likely to increase, so will be the demand for firewood. This trend already seems to have created a problem of deforestation. The negative impacts of deforestation need no specific mention here. Since land will be inadequate for the population, food will also be scarce to most of the rural masses. So, what is the way forward for Malawi? Going by records, I suggest that we treat Lake Malawi with all the seriousness. This natural asset must be put to use as soon as we can.
As a matter of fact, many countries worldwide start their economic sustainability with agriculture. For example, the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China, Israel and Bangladesh are some of the countries which still value irrigation as an important aspect in their economies. I certainly agree that the construction of irrigation channels together with the drainage system will be more expensive to the nation. But perhaps less expensive than what we would finally benefit in the long-term. In fact, it was equally expensive to countries mentioned above.
The initial cost of a project should not hold our arms in funding them. Even if it means asking Parliament to specifically sit and authorise the borrowing of money for this venture, it would not hurt the most of us.
My frame of mind does not seem to conclude that irrigation is problem-free. We should not neglect to note the problems of salinisation, alkanisation, waterlogging and disease transmission in our planning process. My point is that though the problems of irrigation exist, the crop production potential is immense considering the area of production the lake can cover. Even if we enter into the venture with our limited resources, inadequate infrastructure and old-fashioned technology, we could at least have something to smile at on the whole.
Moreover, the lake covers a good proportion of the country. This should be a great opportunity for us in Malawi. I wonder, then, if at all our strategic Vision 2020 paper includes the way this resource will be managed. If not then it may be imperative to form a “Lake Malawi Irrigation Board or Committee” whose members would examine the good and bad of such a venture. The implementation of the proposals made would also be entrusted in them. In the same vein, I must urge the relevant authorities to direct and examine these planning efforts for the good of the nation.
It is reality that we are currently in a hunger crisis. As per government projections, the trend is likely to be more serious this year. This is sad news, indeed. You cannot imagine some people eating grass day in day out—basing on newspaper reports. This gives a clue that we need not necessarily depend on rains as they are becoming very unpredictable. Any dry spell leads to hunger crisis! To this end, I urge the relevant authorities, particularly the Minister of Agriculture to seriously consider the idea of forming a Lake Malawi Irrigation Board or Committee.
I finish with an appeal to the policy makers that we must recognise that Lake Malawi is a possible legitimate entity of national development. My only prayer is that a committee for implementation of such ideas will be put in place without much hesitation. To avert these hunger crises, there is an indispensable need for Lake Malawi irrigation framework. May be, when this dream is implemented, we will forget some of these hunger problems.
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