THE government has spent over 2.3bn/- to improve four irrigation schemes in Mlele District in Katavi region with the aim of increasing paddy production to five from 4.5 tonnes per hectare.

Mlele District Commissioner, Colonel (rtd) Ngemela Lubinga revealed before Premier Mizengo Pinda on Friday at Inyonga town in Mlele District that one of the schemes, Urwira, has however not yet yielded desired results.

Mr Pinda is in Katavi region on a ten-day working tour where he will inspect several development projects and address public rallies.

Col Lubinga named the four irrigation schemes as Ugalla, Mwamapuli, Usense and Urwira which cover a combined 14,331 hectares of land suitable for irrigation activities.

The premier was also briefed that construction of Ugalla irrigation project at the cost of over 778m/- has reached 98 per cent while the Mwamapuli project is still tendered. Other projects such as the Urwira scheme has been renovated at the cost of over 800m/- while Usense irrigation project has cost over 150m/-.

According to the DC, it was in the interest of the State to ensure that all irrigation schemes yield impressive results by cultivating 14,331 hectares to produce 64,489 tonnes of rice per annum.