400 acres of rice in Mbarali drying up for lack of water 16 400 acres of rice in Mbarali drying up for lack of water RICE planted in more than 400 acres in Ihahi village, Chimala ward in Mbarali District has dried up due to lack of water at Ihahi irrigation scheme, threatening hunger for more than 3,000 villagers in the area. The drying up of the rice is mainly due to failure by the Ihahi natural irrigation scheme to satisfy farmers’ needs in the area, as well as the ongoing conflict among farmers fighting for the available water. Irrigation officer from the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) Eng. Faraja Mahenge arrived at the area early this week to look for the solution to the problem.