President Peter Muntharika has hailed Shire Valley Transformation as one of the project that will change the face of Malawi.

He said that the project will help Malawi to move from rain-fed agricultural dependence to irrigation farming so that the country should have food regardless of good rains or not.

Mutharika said through the initiative farmers will be able to produce crops with low costs but accomplishing more income which will transform their lives and in turn develop the communities.

“We have land. We have water. We have our minds to think. And we have our hands to work with. Why should we be poor people?,” he asked.

The President said he wants to see Malawi transforming from importing and consuming country, to a producing and exporting country.

He sited some of projects that are being implemented in Malawi, with the vision to transform agriculture and transform Malawi.

The projects include Rural Irrigation Development, Rural Irrigation Development and Agriculture Infrastructure and Youth in Agri-Business Project.

Shire Valley Transformation Program will cover 43,000 hectares of land which will benefit 28,000 small holder farmers in addition to Kasinthula Cane Growers and the farmers will be operating in blocks divided in 500 hectares.