* As the Component 1 of SVTP Phase II continues to advance with temporary conveyance structure (intake area) at 85% and expected to be completed in September 2026
* Marking a major milestone that will enable farmers to begin irrigating their fields while water treatment and supply works is at 95% complete to be managed by Southern Region Water Board
By Duncan Mlanjira
Progress of the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) is at an advanced stage with water from the main canal expected to start flowing to the Kambadwe and Mwanaalilenji cooperative farm blocks in October this year.
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This is reported by the official Facebook media account, indicating that the Component 1 of SVTP Phase II continues to advance — bringing the programme closer to delivering reliable irrigation water and improved water services to communities in the Shire Valley.
The STVP Media reports that the project technical committee — comprising representatives from various government departments, non-governmental organisations and other implementing partners — recently toured and assessed progress on construction works at the temporary intake & conveyance structure, Kambadwe & Mwanaalilenji farm blocks, and the water treatment plant.
It followed a meeting that concluded that farmers for Kambadwe and Mwanaalilenji cooperatives will begin irrigating their fields from October — realising the goal towards increased agricultural productivity and greater opportunities for commercial farming.
The project technical committee, that is working to advance the SVTP objectives, was led by director of irrigation services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Water Development, Tinkho Mpezeni.
Thus the SVTP Media reports on key progress of the landmark largest irrigation project in the Sub-Saharan region — which includes the construction of the water intake from the Shire River, whose temporary conveyance structure at the intake area is at 85% complete and expected to be concluded by this September 2026.
The main 118kms-long canal progressing towards completion is at 86% paving the way for the delivery of irrigation water to other targeted farm blocks.
The programme also has a component of delivering safe potable water, whose treatment and supply works is at 95% complete and all three staff houses completed.
This component targets 48,000 beneficiaries, whose water treatment and supply works will be managed by the Southern Region Water Board (SRWB), helping to improve access to reliable and safe water services for communities in the project area.
The SVTP is being implementing in three sequential but partially overlapping phases and land is at the heart of this agricultural transformation.
Under the Component II of the SVTP Phase II, significant progress is also reported to have been made in securing land rights, consolidating farmland and strengthening land administration in Chikwawa and Nsanje.
Progress includes:
* Land demarcation — 91,233 parcels have been demarcated, covering 60,824.89 hectares and benefiting 84,308 landowners;
* Land registration — 39,992 parcels covering 30,936 hectares have been registered in the Phase I area.
* Land consolidation — 24,628 parcels have been consolidated into 13 irrigation blocks, covering 9,953.64 hectares.
* Community land institutions were established and trained that include 67 community land committees, 19 community land tribunals and 2 district land tribunals.
* Land administration has been strengthened by training at national level 317 land clerks and 35 district land registrars.
* Chikwawa District Land Tribunal has so far resolved 291 land disputes, contributing to more secure and peaceful land governance.
* Land use and physical development planning have been prepared for Chikwawa and Nsanje with 72 as village land use plans and four as urban structure plans.
The great Shire River
With financial support from the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), OPEC Fund and the Malawi Government, the SVTP Phase II objective is to develop 43,370 hectares of irrigated commercial agriculture and strengthen sustainable management and utilisation of natural resources in the programme area.
SVTP Phase II became effective on September 12, 2022 and is scheduled to run until September 30, 2028 — building on the achievements of SVTP Phase I which ended in 2024.
The SVTP reports that Phase II “is focused on advancing irrigation infrastructure, completing land tenure formalisation, strengthening district land administration and planning institutions, improving natural resources management, and promoting agricultural modernisation and commercialisation”.
“The programme also supports private-sector participation and agricultural value chains to create greater opportunities for farmers and other players in the agriculture sector.
“SVTP Phase II is laying the foundation for a more productive, commercial and sustainable agricultural sector in the Shire Valley.
“In the end, SVTP Phase III will scale up investments and activities initiated under SVTP Phase II to further expand irrigated commercial agriculture and sustainable natural resource management,” reports the SVTP Media.
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