Zambia Farmers Get Year-Round Water for First Time

For generations, farming families in Sioma District, Zambia relied entirely on seasonal rains to grow their crops. That uncertainty just ended for 73 households who now have access to reliable, year-round water from the newly commissioned Malombe Centre Pivot Irrigation Scheme.

President Hakainde Hichilema inaugurated the 25-hectare system, which draws water directly from the Zambezi River. Members of the IMIKAYA Cooperative can now plant and harvest outside the rainy season, planning their farming with confidence instead of crossing their fingers for good weather.

The irrigation scheme is part of a larger climate resilience project funded by the Green Climate Fund and delivered across 16 districts nationwide. Nearly a million Zambians are benefiting from improved water systems, weather stations, and training in climate-smart farming techniques.

The project goes beyond just water. Farmers are learning conservation agriculture at centers of excellence, while early warning systems with rain gauges help them prepare for weather changes before they happen.

To diversify income, families are receiving support for goat rearing, fish farming, and beekeeping. Village savings groups, mostly led by women, are helping households build financial cushions for tough times.

New bulking centers in several districts are solving another critical problem: getting crops to market. These facilities connect farmers to school feeding programs and structured markets, reducing waste and improving prices.

The IMIKAYA Cooperative owns and manages the Malombe scheme directly, with technical support from government partners, UNDP, and the Barotse Royal Establishment. This community ownership model is designed to keep the system running long after the initial funding ends.

The Ripple Effect

The stable water supply is already creating opportunities beyond farming. Local businesses in agro-processing, transport, and trade are expected to grow as year-round harvests become the norm.

When families earn steady incomes, children stay in school longer and parents reinvest in better seeds and equipment. One irrigation scheme can strengthen an entire district economy.

For Zambia, projects like Malombe represent a fundamental shift from rain-dependent subsistence farming to climate-resilient commercial agriculture. Smallholder farmers are gaining the tools to compete in regional markets despite increasing droughts and unpredictable rainfall.

Families who once worried whether the rains would come are now planning next season's crops with confidence.