Greenbelt Authority (GBA) and Maka Resources from Zimbabwe have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), effectively enabling the two companies to start investing in large-scale commercial irrigation in Malawi.
The pact is expected to translate into “huge export produce that will help many countries in Africa.” The MoU signing took place in Lilongwe. GBA is a Government of Malawi corporation established with the mandate to champion large-scale commercial irrigation through efficient use of land and water resources in order to accelerate socio-economic transformation of the country.
On the other hand, Maka Resources is Zimbabwe’s leading irrigation and water engineering company, which, among other things, manufactures centre pivots irrigation and solar-powered systems locally and supplies grain drying technology and drip irrigation system.
The two firms will be jointly looking at scheme preparation, project implementation and establishment of agro-processing facilities. However, each has a specific obligation in an MoU whose fruits “must begin to show in twelve months’ time”.
Achieving goals
GBA will provide land, free of any disturbances and facilitate some of the processes in order to get exemptions for importation of some of the critical agriculture equipment. Maka is required to source finances and other resources for establishment of irrigation investments and projects.
Speaking during the MoU signing, GBA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Amon Mluwira, described the partnership as a milestone as far as commercial irrigation is concerned in Malawi.
“The MoU will facilitate the creation of a special purpose vehicle, leading to agreeing to go together to work into issues of investing in commercial irrigation in the country. GBA has a lot of land suitable for irrigation, but resources have been a major constraint on our part. The resources we will get through this partnership, will help in achieving the goals of GBA,” said Mluwira.
Maka Resources Chief Executive Officer, Innocent Sibanda, said the company was attracted to Malawi because of the potential of the agriculture sector in the country.
“There is so much we can do in agriculture in Malawi. We can exploit it together and feed our own people. With climate change, there is no agriculture without irrigation. If there is no climate proof for agriculture, it is a waste of resources through droughts, irregular rain and other impacts of climate change. There can be no harvest,” said Sibanda.
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