Despite limited rainfall in the 2025 farming season, the Bwanje Irrigation Scheme in Dedza has registered a significant rise in rice production, with harvests increasing to 70 percent compared to last year’s 30 percent.

Bwanje Scheme Agriculture Extension Development Coordinator, Felix Mayuni, said that although the country experienced a dry spell, farmers at the scheme relied on water from the Bwanje Dam to sustain irrigation farming, enabling most of them to achieve good yields.

Mayuni added that farmers adopted new farming techniques, which contributed to the improved production.

“Bwanje Dam dried up fast this year in October, a situation that created challenges for many farmers. But I am happy that they still managed to harvest about 70 percent of their rice,” said Mayuni.

He further advised farmers to continue adopting new technologies to increase yields, noting that some farmers harvested 10 bags of unshelled rice on a 0.1-hectare plot, while others produced 3 bags on the same land size, depending on their methods.

One of the farmers, Maloni Chisale, said water shortages affected this year’s production, but he thanked God that they still managed to harvest encouraging yields.

He said the modern farming practices introduced by agricultural experts helped them and they will continue using them to improve production next season.

“I worked hard to produce 60 bags of rice this year, but I managed to harvest 45 bags, which is still good for me. I will try my best next year to produce even more,” said Chisale.

Meanwhile, agriculture expert Leonard Chimwaza has urged farmers across the country to adopt modern rice farming technologies and plant improved rice varieties to boost yields.

“Farmers should start using modern methods and plant new varieties that produce more yields and mature faster,” said Chimwaza.

The Bwanje Irrigation Scheme covers 800 hectares, cultivated by farmers under the Bwanje Water Users Association.