Lusitu Irrigation Scheme - (Chirundu District)

Lusitu Irrigation Scheme is among the Core Sites of the Irrigation Development Support Project - IDSP. Lusitu is located within the scenic and mountainous District of Chirundu in the Lusaka Province. Lusitu derives its name from the Lusitu River which is prone to dryness, sometimes reducing into a stream and is home to over two thousand inhabitants.

The Lusitu Irrigation Scheme is located 15km from Chirundu District and 150km from Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. Lusitu is down stream of the Kariba Dam and barley 200 meters off the Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth longest waterway. This area is home to the famous Ngombe Ilede, a national heritage and touristic site, characterized by a sight of baobab trees.

Lusitu is based in the valley of a drought-prone area with harsh desert-like climatic conditions of the Chirundu district, and has remained under-developed for a long time.

Small holder farmers of Lusitu have been able to produce okra, tomatoes and bananas heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture supplying to markets of Siavonga, Chirundu Kafue and sometimes Lusaka. These farming activities did not go un-noticed.  

Their commitment to agricultural activities of small scale community of farmers at Lusitu attracted the attention of the Zambian Government and cooperating partners led to the initiation of an irrigation project which brought solutions and relief to this community.  

The Lusitu Irrigation Scheme was conceived as a result. The project is funded by the World Bank and the Republic of Zambia. Currently at 95 percent completion, the IDSP is about to bring change to the landscape of Lusitu as it give the farming fraternity of Lusitu to carry out their agricultural activities throughout the year.

Apart from Mwomboshi and Musakashi irrigation schemes, Lusitu is the third core site that was carefully selected to host the irrigation development support project due its closeness to the Zambezi River and noticeable farming activities.

The small holder farmers and community of Lusitu are energized about the coming of the IDSP due to this support by the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Agriculture and its cooperating partners.

The impact that climate change continues to have on our economies, agriculture and food production is in sync with the Zambian Government’s adaptation measures to climate change mitigation that include promotion of irrigation and efficient use of water resources, which requires support from all well-meaning citizens.

Water harvesting and irrigation is our gateway into sustainable agriculture for Zambia that will lead to changing the lives of rural communities that can now be able to increase productivity due to availability of water throughout the year.