Agriculture

By Tiyamike Makanga:  Nzanga Ulinazo Irrigation Scheme in Salima is set for a K100 million rehabilitation to restore its drainage system, which was damaged by floods and disrupted irrigation activities in the area. Salima District Council has handed over the scheme to Marogo Civils Limited to undertake the rehabilitation works at Chiluwa Extension Planning Area in the area of Senior Chief Mwanza. Salima District Senior Irrigation Engineer Omega Marcello said the scheme was prioritised after an assessment of irrigation schemes affected by the floods because it was the only source of irrigation for communities in the area. “After assessing all the affected irrigation schemes in the district, we agreed to prioritise Nzanga Ulinazo Irrigation Scheme because it was the only source of irrigation in the area,” Marcello said. He said restoring the drainage system would allow farmers to resume irrigation and enable households around the scheme to produce food throughout the year. Member of Parliament for Salima Central North Constituency Maxwell Mnjemu urged farmers to take responsibility for protecting the scheme once the rehabilitation is completed. “This is your scheme, so you need to be responsible by taking care of it. You need to have a sense of ownership. At the end of the day, ask yourselves what it is that we must do considering that the drainage system is being fixed,” Mnjemu said. For the contractor, the rehabilitation will also require compliance with labour laws. Salima District Assistant Labour Officer Joseph Kachigamba cautioned the company against sexual exploitation and harassment at the worksite. “You are here for work and focus on that. Do not use your powers or money to threaten, exploit or harass others,” Kachigamba said. He further called for workers to be paid on time and in line with government-approved rates. Chairperson of Nzanga Ulinazo Irrigation Scheme Ellad Kunkhunga assured authorities that farmers would establish a complaints and grievance committee to report issues, including suspected theft, during the works. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme, is implementing the rehabilitation under the Risk Informed Development for Resilience project.  

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