NEWS

Farmers under the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project (LUSIP) now breathe a sigh of relief as the much awaited water has been impounded into the Lubovane Reservoir. The impoundment marks a turning to the LUSIP farmers associations as they had eagerly waited for the water to be diverted into the reservoir. The historic ceremony took place in June 2008..

While resettlement is generally viewed as disruptive to the livelihoods of the affected people, the opposite holds true for the Lower Usuthu Small Holder Irrigation Project (LUSIP). The 186 affected families are the most happy and envied people in the project area. Like the biblical record of the manna from heaven given by God to the children of Israel so is resettlement at LUSIP. One hundred and eighty six (186) families, mostly impoverished, consider themselves very fortunate to be part of the resettlement project that has seen those enjoying modern houses and pocketing cash for other properties like kraal and loss of production.

The E 1.5 Billion worth LUSIP Project will soon benefit the hundreds of farmers who have been eagerly waiting for it to bear the fruits.This comes after the management of the project announced that water will be put into the three dam walls under the project, namely Mhlathuzane, Golome and Saddle dam walls. LUSIP is the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project that is being implemented by the Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development.

With the availability of irrigation water by April 2008, Farmers under the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project (LUSIP) are getting ready for the irrigation which is set to commence in October 2008. The potential farmers have formed themselves into groups, in readiness for the irrigation development. They have undergone, and will continue to undergo, a number of training courses to prepare themselves for the huge task ahead of them.