Japan through Jica has invested $10 million (K4 billion) in a siltation reduction project in the Shire River. Through the project, Jica will work with farmers in soil erosion management and siltation prevention activities to increase power generation capacity.
The second phase of the project called Community Vitalisation and Afforestation in the Middle Shire (Covams II) was launched at Comesa Hall in Blantyre on Tuesday by Minister of Environment and Climate Change Management Halima Daud and the Japanese charge d’Affaires Shigenobu Kobayashi.
Kobayashi said Malawi has a lot of natural resources which are under threat such as the Shire River which is responsible for 93 percent of power production in the country.
“I am informed that this area has suffered major environment deterioration because of increased demand for farming land and deforestation. To address the problems my government is today supporting the implementation of the Covams II project,” said Kobayashi.
On her part, Daud thanked the Japanese government for agreeing to extend the programme.
“The programme will be implemented in Mwanza, Neno and Balaka within the middle Shire,” said Daud.
Kobayashi also donated 25 bicycles to some stakeholders.
