Communities urged to adopt compost manure

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aramount Chief Kyungu of Chitipa and Karonga districts has urged small-scale farmers in Karonga to adopt compost manure to restore soil fertility and enhance food production.

He made the call on Tuesday at Mlare when Foundation for Community Support Services launched a Harvesting Prosperity and Resilience Project also dubbed Makwelero Programme Approach.

During the launch, lead farmers demonstrated how to make Mbeya organic fertiliser.

“What we have seen is a clear manifestation that we can survive without depending on imported fertiliser. We can do it from small-scale to a larger-scale as at the rate we are going, we cannot afford chemical fertiliers,” said Kyungu.

The chief also urged farmers against selling all their farm produce, saying families should keep enough for consumption.

Foundation for Community Support Services programmes manager Jabess Nyirenda said they want to encourage farmers to fight against effects of climate change through conservation agriculture, goat pass-on programme and use of organic manure.

He said: “The project started in 2016 in two catchment areas of Kasoba and Mlare through lead farmer concept and care group model.

“This time, we have integrated the two projects into Makwelero Programme approach to promote nutrition and agriculture.”

Nyirenda said the project also seeks to empower smallholder farmers economically by 2026.

Karonga district food and nutrition officer Kenstone Sinkhonde hailed the project, saying if adopted, it will reduce stunting in the district which is at 24 percent.

“We have a huge task to reduce stunting levels in the district. We need stakeholders to implement food and diet diversification interventions,” he said.

With funding from Rise Against Hunger, the organisation is implementing the project in Kasoba and Mlare in Paramount Chief Kyungu in the district.