By JOHN KOMBE
THE $1.4 million Shikabeta Irrigation Scheme in Rufunsa needs to be connected to the national electricity grid before it is fully handed over to the government, Agriculture Productivity and Market Enhancement Project (AP- MEP) engineer, Shadrick Phiri has said.
Engineer Phiri made the observation during the partial handover of the project in Rufunsa yesterday.
The project was funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Zambian government under APMEP.
He said that the project works which started in 2017 have been completed by the contractor, African Brothers. He said that all that was remaining was to test the equipment which has three centre pivots for irrigating the fields.
Eng Phiri appealed to Zesco to quickly connect the scheme to the national electricity grid before the end of March this year when the project is expected to be finally handed over to the government.
He said that the 552 hectares irrigation scheme has been divided into four farming blocs where bananas, sugar cane and many other types of crops can be cultivated.
And Rufunsa District Commissioner Richard Mabena who witnessed the partial hand over of the project expressed satisfaction with the works.
He was confident that the scheme will contribute to food security in the area, adding that the project was a milestone for the district.
Mr Mabea observed that the scheme will not only ben- efit the people of Shikabeta chiefdom, but the entire district. “This project will enhance food security in Shik- abeta chiefdom and the entire district.”
He urged the district agricultural office to ensure that the project yields the intend- ed benefits for the district.
