World Bank Funding Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development

The World Bank-funded Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD) project has invested 11.7 Million Kwacha to build permanent irrigation canals in the Kawambwa district.

This investment is set to provide a lifeline for communities in Kawambwa district, particularly those adversely affected by unpredictable weather patterns. The TRALARD project is not just a financial investment, but a commitment to the well-being and resilience of the local community.

Farmers in the Kwambwa district are pleased with the ongoing construction of the 3.8 km Irrigation canals by TRALARD. The Canals will allow the farming communities to grow crops all year round. 

Osborne Mubanga, a local farmer in Chansa Malamba said “As soon as we saw the construction of the canal, we decided to plant maize before the rainy season started, knowing the canal would provide water for our crops.”

Francis Mukonde, a farmer in Kalmbwe added, “Climate change is causing droughts, and this is leading to crop failure but with this, we will be farming different crops all year round whether it raining or not.”

The technical officer in charge of irrigation at the Ministry of Agriculture, Barnmabas Silombo, said that the newly constructed canals have the potential to irrigate over 400 hectares of land.

“Many, many farmers are going to benefit, and I think the government's objective of making sure we go irrigation is going to be achieved,” added Mr Silombo.

WASH Engineer Sampa Kapembwa said, “This area is acting as a reservoir; we are able to keep water to use in the dry spells for agricultural purposes; this has come at the right time such that the communities around this area will be able to feed into the food basket of Kawambwa.”