World Vision Water Project Inspires Irrigation Farming

By Trinity Kubalasa.

Communications and External Engagement Manager, World Vision Malawi.

When villagers in Ng'omba Village Traditional Authority Chitera cried for safe water drinking their initial desire was to end decades of travelling long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources for domestic use. 

Little did they know that the water project from World Vision in partnership with Water for People would inspire villagers to venture into irrigation farming to improve their livelihoods. 

George Smith, 40, is the pride of Ng'omba Village after realizing bumper tomato harvest through irrigation farming inspired by World Vision water supply system.

Smith gives credit to the World Vision Water Project for his bumper yield saying easy access to water helped him to expand the farm area.

Smith's tomato garden which is close to one hectare stretches for miles from the river bank up to the upper area. 

"Before the water supply system came, it was difficult to implement irrigation farming. Irrigation farming only took place near river sources. But the coming of the water helped to irrigate crops in areas that are away from river sources," he said.

Steve said he irrigated through World Vision water supply system for the first two months until the water supply became erratic due to cold weather in May and June. Now he is using water drawn from wells dug near the river bank. The Kiosk which supplied water is 200 meters from the garden.

The tomatoes are about to start ripening for the market. This will be the first time for Smith to make such a bumper yield. He credits the bumper yield to inspiration from the water supply system. 

With money raised from tomatoes, Smith hopes to buys goats and  his own solar pump. The tomatoes are big and many per tree. 

"With a bucket fetching about K35,000 on the market I hope to make a meaningful profit. With that profit I want to recapitalise the farming by buying a solar pump to increase irrigation capacity. I also want to raise goats from the profit”, he explains.

According to Luka Patrick, the Chairperson of the Ng'omba Water Users Association, initially 10 people started irrigation farming following the arrival of the water project, but some dropped out due to some difficulties. But one man persisted and he has lived to tell his success story. 

"The success story of Smith will inspire more people to start irrigation farming in places where these kiosks are located," he said