Musakashi Irrigation Scheme - (Mufulira)

Musakashi is located in Mufulira rural on the Copperbelt approximately 242km from Zambi’a capital, Lusaka. Musakashi is among the three sites within the country that was selected for an irrigation pilot project under the IDSP.  

This land was originally owned by various indigenous people. The coming of Irrigation Development Support Project entailed that people be relocated to allow for project land and infrastructure redesigning and eventually development. This involved massive sensitization, training and exposure to other areas where similar projects where succeeding.

Land allocation at Musakashi originated from a background of Government earmarking agriculture graduating students to a place where they could begin from with assurance that they would help them mechanize agriculture. With time, an opportunity arose through the Ministry of Agriculture with funding from the World Bank putting up irrigation facilities in selected sites. Musakashi was opportune in consideration that there were agriculture graduates waiting to be assisted. The scheme draws its water from the Kafue River.

Musakashi irrigation scheme is divided into three (3) Tiers or rankings that classify capacity levels. Tier 1 is for the small scale farmers that start from .25 hectares to 1 hectare pieces of land. Tier 2 with up to 20 hectares is for emerging farmers that will be able to manage to grow on a larger scale. Currently the Zambia National Service is operating on Tier 2 pieces of land at Musakashi. Tier 3 is for the commercial farmers.   

Currently, 1, 200 hectares of the total 6, 000 hectares is under use. The Small holder farmers in Tier 1 of the Musakashi scheme are already actively producing. They are growing crops such as maize, butternuts, onion, potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes and carrots. Because of water being available to them through irrigated facilities, the famers are now able to grow and sell their produce all year round.

Apart from irrigation infrastructure development facilities, the IDSP has also developed physical and social infrastructure such as roads, electricity and 113 new housing units to the community of Musakashi. This has manifested change in improvement of people’s lives.

The farmers of Musakashi have a ready market for their produce through a number of off takers and the local Mufulira and surrounding areas markets.

Agriculture is fundamentally the bloodline of Zambia’s industry. The farmers at Musakashi must remain optimistic if this new gemstone has to grow and be sustained.

The Musakashi project scheme is now firmly on the ground and there is no turning back for the farmers of this community. Musakashi is now a budding community of farmers digging into the ground to unleash a new era of agricultural production.