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Seeds of hope in Neno district: New solar irrigation schemes promise food security and a greener tom

There were smiles, handshakes and a sense of new hope in the air in Neno District as community members gathered to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for two new irrigation schemes.

For many families, this was more than just a formal ceremony — it was the beginning of a new chapter.

“With these two irrigation schemes that CARD is going to provide to us, we believe they will help protect our environment and ensure that we have enough food for our households,” said Alex Fundenji from Group Village Felemu, his face glowing with a wide smile. “We are truly grateful for considering us. God bless you.”

His words captured the feelings of many in the crowd.

The two solar-powered irrigation schemes, Mapangali and Mwangwanyani, are located nearly 20 kilometers from the Neno turn-off in Mwanza. Once completed, they will support farmers to irrigate about eight hectares of land. Valued at over 168 million Malawi Kwacha, the project will allow communities to grow crops throughout the year even during dry spells using clean solar energy.

For parents in Traditional Authority Mlauli, this means something very simple but powerful: food on the table and children in school.

Neno Director of Planning and Development, Charles Lomoni praised Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD) for stepping in at the right time. He explained that when families have reliable harvests, children are less likely to drop out of school due to hunger or lack of school fees. With irrigation farming, parents will not only feed their families but also earn income to meet school needs.

Environmental protection was another strong message of the day. Chimwemwe Bomba, also from the District Agriculture Office, noted that in the past, many people turned to charcoal production because they had no other source of income. This put pressure on forests and increased environmental risks.

“Now people will be busy in their fields,” she said. “They will have productive work and our environment will benefit too.”

CARD Executive Director, Melton Luhanga, encouraged the communities to dream bigger. He reminded them that the support they are receiving is an opportunity to transform their livelihoods not just for today, but for future generations. He assured them that CARD will continue walking alongside them.

The irrigation schemes are part of a broader project funded by Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe aimed at strengthening community resilience and food security in disaster-prone areas of Malawi. The initiative targets 1,000 vulnerable households and includes support such as group microgrants, savings and loans, climate-smart agriculture and anticipatory action.

But beyond the technical details and figures, what stood out most in Neno that day was hope.

Hope for greener fields.
Hope for healthier families.
Hope for a future where communities are strong, self-reliant and resilient.