Malawi irrigation

I am an English woman who has spent the last 8 years slowly travelling the third world. I finally came to rest by the side of Lake Malawi in a small and very hungry village in Senga Bay. It seems absurd that, whilst the wealthy businessmen from Lilongwe have ample water for their weekend houses, the villagers just behind patiently sit on their dry land waiting for the rains so that they can plant their one crop of the year. I am currently in Pretoria making use of the various facilities to learn all I can about crop farming and irrigation and then it is my intention to return to Malawi after the rains. For them to dream of affording fertilizer and seeds does not seem too outrageous and, surely, provided the finances were carefully managed, such a small scale scheme could and would be highly successful and, I imagine, have a wonderful knock-on effect. Not to mention the hope it would give where there is currently there is none.<P>I would welcome an answer and possibly an opportunity to meet with one of your members<P>SUSAN E HARVEY <br>Sue Harvey<br>