Empower 30 Malawian Families with Solar Irrigation

PROJECT REPORT TO GLOBALGIVING. 8^TH JUNE 2022

Project #50162: Empower 30 Malawian Families with Solar Irrigation by Eagles Relief and Development Programme International

Find below the status of the Project #50162 with a goal to empower 30 Malawian Families with Solar Irrigation Farming.

Project Location

The project is being implemented in Balaka District, Southern Region of Malawi. The district is disaster prone. With frequent droughts as a result climate change, farmers do not harvest enough to feed their families throughout the year.

Project Context and Cyclone Impacts

In the previous report, we reported the delay of the first rains by at least 2 months, with the rains coming after mid-December 2021 instead of October 2021. Tragically on January 24^th 2022, a tropical cyclone Ana hit Southern Region of Malawi, wreaking havoc and damage to infrastructure, crop fields, coupled with loss of lives and livestock as well. Severe flooding was reported across 16 districts and 2 cities in southern Malawi, leaving at least 990,000 people in need of life-saving and life-sustaining humanitarian assistance and protection, including more than 190,400 people who were displaced by floods. Of these, an estimated 680,000 people in need were concentrated in the six districts hardest-hit by the crisis, Balaka inclusive (6^th most affected). At least 46 people were killed by the floods (with some missing) and more than 200 were injured, according to the Government of Malawi. The President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera declared a State of National Disaster on 26 January 2022. (Malawi Tropical Storm Ana Flash Appeal - Feb-Apr 2022.pdf)[1]

The impact of the cyclone disaster was huge on the irrigation site, considering the fact that 8 hectares of irrigable land had either its banks broken and eroded by surface run off or silted; both rendering the banks difficult to construct terraces that aid the lifting of water from the source to point of irrigation.

Project Implementation Progress

Inspite of the huge negative impact cyclone Ana inflicted on the scheme, the farmers bounced back with various activities within the month of April 2022. This is a reflection of the fact that, despite the trauma farmers went through during and after the cyclone, farmers still have the desire to cultivate different crops bearing in mind that irrigation farming is considered their main source of livelihood that provides them with the basic needs for their families.

Land preparation, seed sowing and transplanting were some of the activities farmers embarked on in the month of April, 2022 when the rains tailed off. Nearly 4 hectares of the earmarked 8 had beds constructed and seed sown. Following the sowing, approximately 1 hectare of the 4 has been cultivated, using residual moisture, with different seed types of vegetables grown such as Chinese, rape, okra, cabbage, tomato to mention but a few. The remaining 3 hectares were sown later after the seedlings reached transplantable stage. A total of 45 farmers (27 women,18 men) each owning an average of 0.1 hectares of land are participants of the said activities. The current forms of irrigation remain use of residual moisture in the aftermath of the rains and cyclone, and other crops are irrigated using watering cans as well as rented motorized pumps.

Fundraising Goal

With the fundraising goal of $50,000 to be raised to enable Eagles establish a solar powered irrigation system that would support 30 Malawian families to grow crops throughout the year, $25 993 has so far been raised, up by $992 since December 21 2021. The communities eagerly look forward to the time the solar powered system is up and running. To accomplish this objective, $24,007 stillneedto be raised. A contractor has since been identified to set the system once the funds suffice. Help us reach that goal.

On behalf of Eagles and the farmers, I would like to thank you very much for your generous support this far. 

Yours sincerely Victor Mughogho, Project Leader.

[1] Malawi Tropical Storm Ana Flash Appeal - Feb-Apr 2022.pdf (un.org)

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PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT

Project #50162: Empower 30 Malawian Families with Solar Irrigation by Eagles Relief and Development Programme International

Find below the status of the Project #50162 with a goal to empower 30 Malawian Families with Solar Irrigation Farming.

Project Location

The project is being implemented in Balaka District, Southern Region of Malawi. The district is disaster prone. With frequent droughts as a result climate change, farmers do not harvest enough to feed their families throughout the year. A good case in point is this year, whereby the first rains have come after mid-December 2021 instead of October 2021. The rainy season has delayed by at least 2 months.

Fundraising Goal

With the fundraising goal of $50,000 to be raised to enable Eagles establish a solar powered irrigation system that would support 30 Malawian families to grow crops throughout the year, $25,041 has so far been raised. One behalf of the communities that are eagerly looking forward to the establishment of the scheme, we are profoundly grateful! However, we still have $24,959 required to be raised.

To enable Eagles effectively set up the irrigation system, more funds are needed to be raised to enable procurement of the equipment for the system as well as enable Eagles conduct other capacity building interventions for the farmers.

Set up of the entire system requires at least $26,667 which comprises various components including the drilling of the boreholes, purchasing of solar panels, construction of a powerhouse for housing the water pumps, procurement of pipes and other accessories.

Project Implementation Progress

While waiting for the fundraising goal to be met, Eagles decided to initiate the project, while trusting that with continued contributions, the full amount of $50,000 will be raised. We are encouraged that we now have one donor committed to donating monthly towards the project. We hope more donors will come forth with monthly donations, to help us meet the Project Budget of $50,000.

Since the last update, Eagles has thus far implemented the following activities:

• After signing the memorandum of understanding with land owners, the project engaged Balaka District Irrigation Officers to conduct feasibility study on the site and came up with irrigation scheme designs (with detailed sketch maps covering power house construction housing three pumps, laying of pipes, hydrants and man holes).
• Identification of Contractor to construct the Solar Powered Surface Pump Irrigation Scheme, in collaboration and liaison with the District Irrigation Officers and Eagles Internal Procurement Committee. The process is yet to be finalized to come up with the final contractor.
• Tiyanjane Irrigation Scheme farmers continued to cultivate different crops on the land using traditional watering cans while waiting to use the improved solar irrigation system. They grew maize, Chinese cabbage and tomatoes as depicted by the pictures taken. The farmers remain eager to upgrade from the cans to the solar powered system as soon as it is constructed.

Given the recurrence of dry spells and droughts in Malawi, aand in Balaka in particular, due to climate change, raising the remaining balance of $24,959 iscritical.

On behalf of Eagles and the farmers, I would like to thank you very much for your generous support this far. 

Links:

• Video of Eagles empowering approach for community transformation