Malawi - Rural Income Enhancement Project (RIEP)

The project is in line with the ADF VII Policy and strategy of poverty alleviation. Crop diversification and adoption of suitable rainfed farming technology, already successfully tried in the various agro-climatic zones of the country will augment land productivity and substantially increase smallholder family average income, for a target group of 63,000 poor farmers, from US$ 130 to US$ 213, a rise of 64%. Under irrigation, the additional income generation on a small 0.3 ha farm will be US$ 264, which will supplement the income form rainfed farming. This will substantially alleviate poverty of the beneficiaries by raising their rural family income. The project will involve launching of training and extension campaigns; ground water surveys; supply of improved seeds, livestock and agro-forestry. Some 800 treadle pumps for small-scale irrigation will be installed. The project involves construction of 28 small diversion structures as well as drilling of shallow wells for irrigation schemes. It will include road and bridge surveys; construction/rehabilitation of about 400 km rural roads and culverts; drilling of dug wells for water supply; supply and installation of hand and treadle pumps and improvement of sanitation facilities.