People in Chiradzulu District have commended Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme interventions for transforming their livelihoods.
Under the programme, community members implement interventions in catchment areas such as making swales, constructing stone bunds, digging check dams and planting trees in depleted forests to restore degraded landscapes.
In an interview on Monday, Chiradzulu District Council Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme district project facilitator Emmanuel Daka thanked extension workers for their commitment to ensuring quality implementation of the programme, thereby helping participants accumulate assets and improve food security.
He said there have been significant improvements in the quality and durability of assets being created under the programme, even in areas that initially faced challenges when the initiative was introduced.
Said Daka: “Chiradzulu was among the first districts to implement the programme during its pilot phase and we encountered challenges in the early years due to limited technical expertise.
“However, we are now seeing a remarkable improvement, with most catchment areas meeting the required standards.”
On his part, Chiradzulu District Council land resources officer Chimwemwe Hara encouraged extension workers from various professional fields such as forestry, agriculture and community development to leverage their expertise and collaborate to sustain the district’s progress.
Midima Catchment Area district designated officer Anthony Phiri emphasised the importance of strong collaboration between extension workers from different sectors during project implementation.
“Sometimes an agricultural extension worker works alongside one from community development. It is crucial that we guide and support each other professionally to achieve our common goal,” he said.
A participant Jennifer Chimbalanga said she now grows maize under winter cropping courtesy of the initiative.
She also said she has goats she bought under the programme.
The World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund support the programme.
