With rain-fed agriculture becoming increasingly unreliable thereby threatening livelihoods and source of income for many small-scale farmers, Standwell Mtonga, a determined farmer in Lumezi district is reinventing the will with his CDF sponsored irrigation farming project.
In actualizing government policy aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and directly responding to the country’s drought situations, Mr. Mtonga who is owner of Harrison Farm in Lumezi’s Kamimba Ward under Chikomeni chiefdom is utilizing the Constituency Development Fund CDF as an alternative to ensure food security and income stability for his household.
With his lifetime expertise in irrigation farming, Mr. Mtonga applied and obtained a CDF empowerment loan of K200,000 in the year 2024 with a vision to venture into irrigation farming as an alternative answer to the drought situation affecting crops cultivation in the district.
With a passion for agriculture and a vision for a brighter future even in his old age of above 50 years, Mr. Mtonga has transformed his long-struggling farm into a thriving irrigation project, a clear testimony that he is reaping the rewards of a K200,000 CDF loan.
“I was financially handicapped, but I have knowledge in agriculture,” Mr. Mtonga explains. “I decided to apply for a loan to venture into irrigation farming, which I thought I could do better than investing in other business ventures I have no knowledge about” he added.
Mr. Mtonga explains that he ventured into irrigation farming because he held the belief that this would be a better venture than waiting for rain-fed agriculture which does not assure farmers of a good crop harvest.
“In irrigation, there is more profit than rain-fed agriculture. When I started, I knew that my future would be bright because every time I am assured that I will have money and I am assured of paying back the CDF loan than relying on rain-fed” he said.
With his farm yard now looking greener than the color itself, Mr. Mtonga as of October 2025 was expecting to harvest 250 ready to eat heads of watermelon, 840 heads of cabbage and approximately 5,000 plants of tomatoes among other crops.
With these crops right on his soil, Mr. Mtonga was anticipating to smile to the bank with over K32,600 taken off his farm where K12,600 would be from sales of his cabbage pegged at K15 per head, K10,000 from his watermelon pegged at K40 each and more than K10,000 from his tomatoes.
With the CDF loan, Mr. Mtonga has drilled a borehole, purchased two water tanks, and installed an irrigation system, allowing him to cultivate crops all-year-round beginning in August, 2025.
“In irrigation, there is more profit than rain-fed agriculture. You are assured of your crops, and you can plan for the future” he said.
“This project which cost me K128,000. I used the remainder of the money to buy fertilizer which I used for crops I cultivated using rain fed agriculture. From that, I managed to yield something which I sold and used part of the proceeds to partly repay my loan” Mr. Mtonga said.
With benefits already showing off, Mr. Mtonga plans to expand his farm, planting oranges, bananas, and citrus fruits, and is inspiring others to follow suit.
“The government has really helped us through the CDF loan. We may not have money, but we have the knowledge. The UPND government has given us loans which has never happened before. I encourage all Zambians to apply for CDF loans and venture into irrigation farming” he said.
Thanks to the CDF loan empowerment, Mr. Mtonga’s future is bright at Harrison Farm located right at the frontage of the Chipata – Lundazi road in Chikomeni.
“In 5 years, you will see wonders at this farm,” he predicts. “People will point here and say, ‘This is a farm’.” Mr. Mtonga added.
And Lumezi Town Council Chairperson Oliver Mwale who toured the farm said the Local Authority is very encouraged with the investment using CDF, calling on future beneficiaries to venture into irrigation farming.
“We are encouraging our farmers to venture into irrigation farming. We appreciate what Mr. Mtonga is doing and we also appreciate the impact of CDF given to our farmers within Lumezi” Mr. Mwale said.
Lumezi Town Council
Assistant Public Relations Officer
Irvin Muyumbwa