Farmers in Malawi have been asked to adopt climate smart agriculture for improved social and economic inclusion.
The appeal has been made as the country continues to brace the impact of climate change which has disrupted food availability and access, due to reduced agricultural productivity.
In an interview with MIJ Online, Rodgers Ngoma, Mbelwa District council Land officer said the move will help to build farmers resilience in the face of climate related shocks and its impact on the environment.
“The purpose is to conserve the soil as well as the environment because people had challenges such that most of the soils were being eroded and a lot of cutting of trees was a very big challenge” said Nkhoma.
Ngoma said through a climate smart enhanced public works programme under the National Local Governance Finance Committee, farmers are being engaged in soil and water conservation.
“After this project we have seen communities construction swales, marker ridges and infiltration pits and we can comfortably say the water is now controlled and we are hoping for a good harvest this year” added Nkhoma.
Meanwhile Deliwe Mvula, Chairperson of Chiputa Catchment in Mzimba has commended the climate smart enhanced public works for controlling and managing water in her land through the construction of infiltration pits and the distribution of Vetiva grass.
“ We have seen the benefit of conserving the environment and practicing climate smart agriculture, we are now able to control running water in our lands, there is no longer soil erosion” said Mvula.
Concurring with Mvula, Steven Ngoma Agriculture Extension worker for Vabingalala Extension Planning Area under Traditional Authority Mzukuzuku in Mzimba said project participants are now being equipped with knowledge of restoring the environment and new technologies of farming.
The World Bank is financing the National Local Government Finance Committee, targeting 435,000 participating ultra poor households to strengthening household resilience to shocks, increase income and food security as well as creating durable community assets.