Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 8th May, 2025.
Lusitu, Chirundu District, Zambia.
President Hakainde Hichilema has directed the Ministry of Finance to urgently disburse funds to the Ministry of Agriculture for the immediate restoration and activation of the Lusitu Irrigation Scheme. The decision, issued through the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) aims to jumpstart winter cropping in the drought stricken region and revive food production under Zambia’s broader agricultural transformation agenda.
The Lusitu Irrigation Scheme, a 170 hectare project situated in Chirundu District, is part of the government’s Integrated Development Support Programme (IDSP) and features a blend of smallholder, tier 1, tier 2, and commercial farming zones. Though the infrastructure was completed in January 2025 after delays caused by contractor issues, water has yet to be pumped due to an unprecedented drop in water levels along the Zambezi River.
To address this, the government is pushing for the immediate procurement and installation of floating pumps to replace the current fixed intake system, which has become ineffective during the dry season. The proposed new pumping solution will ensure consistent water supply by adapting to fluctuating river levels an issue that local officials say emerged only this year due to changing weather patterns.
“The water levels have made traditional channel intakes unreliable,” said a representative from the scheme. “We’ve identified a new site for a floating pump on the riverbank with the help of the local community and the technical groundwork is already complete. What’s needed now is swift funding to operationalize the system.”
The stalled water supply has left over 2,300 hectares of irrigable land idle, with ready to use infrastructure including center pivots and piping lying dormant for two years. This has impacted not only small scale farmers but also institutions like the Zambia National Service (ZNS) Zambia Correctional Service and Zambia Police, who were partnered in the project.
President Hichilema’s directive is expected to unlock the stalled operations just in time for the winter cropping window, which spans from April to September. If executed swiftly, the intervention could allow the cultivation of maize, wheat, vegetables and other critical crops in Lusitu.
The initiative also aligns with the PDU’s broader “10.1.1 Vision,” which targets the production of 10 million metric tonnes of maize and one million metric tonnes each of wheat and other key crops annually through the rehabilitation of existing irrigation systems nationwide.
“We know the value this irrigation scheme holds,” said the head of PDU Kusobile Kamwambi. “The amount needed to switch on the pumps is minimal compared to the economic returns. The farmers are ready, what they need is just that final push.”
With financing now in the pipeline and technical assessments concluded, the expectation is that the Lusitu Irrigation Scheme will be fully operational within weeks, turning idle land into a cornerstone of Zambia’s food security strategy.
The Agency.