THE National Irrigation Commission (NIRC) is implementing a strategy project for the construction of a 12 billion liters irrigation scheme at Membe village of Chamwino district, Dodoma region.

The robust project expected to gobble up to 16.2bn/- upon its completion will benefit a total of 2000 farmers in the area who are set to venture into production of diverse economic cash and food crops at a 7,500 acreage plantation.

The timely initiative is part of a series of projects by the state- owned Commission currently taking shape across the country with an eye to help farmers in the country to produce crops throughout a year, hence cheating the rainy season’s dependency.

Giving an interview to this publication over the project, the Project's Site Engineer from NIRC, Eng. Salehe Ramadhani said implementation of the facility is now at 86 percent of its erection.

He unveiled; funds for the project have been accrued from the State Coffer, saying construction of the scheme is implemented by the local based company, Nakuroi Investment Company Ltd.

"Impmentation of this project commenced on 1st September 2022, and as per the entered agreement the contractor was due to handover the project this December," he expressed.

Due to some unfriendly weather interactions, Eng. Ramadhani said the contractor is now supposed to finalize the project in two months to come.

"The Commission has already injected the contractor with over 10.4bn/- and we remain optimistic the project will finalize in time," he added.

He detailed, the project incorporates construction of a 4.90.1m dam embankment with a top width of 6m and average depth of 14m.

"The capacity of the dam stands at a length of 4.5 km, with 12 million cubic metres, whereby the volume of water is 12 billion liters," he observed.

Apart from serving for irrigation purposes, he said the project has been designed to allow the beneficiaries to engage in fishing activities, as well as getting enough water for their livestock, hence propelling livelihoods.

Speaking for his part, Masoud Chembe, the Project's Site Engineer from Nakuroi Investment Company Ltd said they're working round the clock to ensure the construction of the project reflects value for the invested funds, as well as meet the set time frame.

"As a local company, we're very grateful to the Government for giving us this big national tender. Implementation of this project has provided job opportunities to many indigenous of Membe village," he appreciated.

Adding her voice pertaining to implementation of the project, Mariamu Mziwanda, Acting Head, Government Communications Unit at NIRC, said the Commission is also implementing other similar projects in Ndogoe and Chinan'gali II in Dodoma region.

"In general, the Commission is currently implementing a number of strategic projects for construction of irrigation schemes in different regions," she said.

The focus, she said, is to empower the farmers to produce at least three seasons in a year, the development which targets to increase food security in the country, and national income.

She expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for helping increase budget allocation towards the Commission, from 17bn/-to currently over 400bn/-.

"The budget is allowing the Commission to run its core responsibilities more professionally, especially in project implementation," she appreciated.

She also applauded the Director General (DG) of the Commission, Mr Raymond William Mndolwa for supervising the commission maturely.

The National Irrigation Commission was established under Section 3 of the National Irrigation Act No. 4 of 2013 as an Independent Department of the Government under the Ministry responsible for irrigation. 

The Commission is a body corporate and its day to day activities are managed by the Director General under the guidance of the Governing Board of ten members.