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Green Belt Authority Decries Low Funding

The Green Belt Authority has attributed low funding for contributing to the slow pace for the construction of the 30 billion kwacha Ilora-Nthola irrigation scheme project in Karonga.

Speaking Tuesday when Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima toured the project site, Director of Irrigation operations at the authority Eric Chizungu said so far government has committed to providing over 1billion kwacha out of the required 30 billion kwacha.

Chizungu explained that at the start of the project treasury released 100 million kwacha.

"We expect the project to roll out to the fullest once we get additional funding from government," said Chizungu.

Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima says government will look for an alternative source of funding to finance the project.

"This is a very important project as it augurs well with the Tonse Alliance development agenda of creating 1 million jobs as 14,000 will be employed," said Chilima.

The Ilora-Nthola rice irrigation scheme is expected to produce 15,000 tonnes of rice annually with preliminary works to start next month.

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Last modified on Thursday, 22/04/2021

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