Chiansi Infrastructure Development Project

Summary

The aim of this project is to set up an irrigation infrastructure for the irrigation of 1,800 hectares of land for the production of various agricultural Crops.

Location

Chanyanya Lagoon, Mazabuka, Southern, Zambia

Sector

Water

Applicant

Ministry of Finance

Competent Authority

Chiansi Irrigation Infrastructure Limited

Parties Involved

Project number

ORIO09/ZM/21

Total project costs / Total ORIO Grant amount

27,976,000 Euro / 10,016,871 Euro

Status project

Development Phase

The rural Chiansi area is characterised by poverty and underutilisation of available resources such as land, labour and water. The local population estimated at 21,000 lives mainly by small scale subsistence farming carried out on plots of 1-2 ha in size. Variability of rain fall patterns, low input use and use of labour intensive farming techniques leads to low as a result smallholder farmers in the Chiansi area remain locked into a cycle of under productivity and poverty by which they struggle to survive during the dry season (and often receive food aid from the government), and do not have the economic strength or knowledge during the wet season to invest in infrastructure and technology to improve their food security. The aim of this project is to set up an irrigation infrastructure for the irrigation of 1,800 hectares of land. The infrastructure will be owned by a Public Private Partnership (PPP). A private investor, the Chainsi Farming Company (CFC) will co-invest in the irrigation infrastructure and will get access to 1,200 hectares of land. The impoverished small farmers, organised in cooperation, will get access to 600 hectares of land. CFC, through an outgrowers contract, will assist the farmers in production methods, marketing and training. The main reason to operate in a PPP structure is that should lead to a long term sustainable project.