Communities team up torestore degraded land

Communities under Chasambuka Catchment Area in Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande in Mzimba District have teamed up to plant 40 000 trees during the second cycle of Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, group village head Chawinga said they will plant trees to restore degraded landscapes.

He said: “As leaders, we have an obligation to champion interventions to mitigate the climate change shocks such as prolonged dry spells and floods.

“We will encourage people to make swales and grow trees to replace the lost forestry cover.”

In his remarks, Chasambuka Catchment Area chairperson Andrew Chirambo said they will plant 10 000 trees in four group village heads, namely Chawinga, Mkandawire, Nthala and Kumwenda.

“Our catchment area’s forestry cover has been depleted as people cut down trees for burning bricks and producing charcoal as well as opening of new tobacco farms,” he said.

Chasambuka Catchment Area agriculture extension worker Pitson Kasambala hailed the programme for addressing climate change-related challenges.

“Planting trees will help to restore soil fertility and prevent soil erosion, thereby improving crop production,” he said.

Austin Zimba, a participant, said despite getting wages through working under the programme, the interventions have long-term benefits.

“Our crop yield dwindled over the years because the land lost its fertility due to soil erosion as a result of deforestation,” he said.