Land conservation gives farmers hope

Community members from Traditional Authority Kayembe in Dowa District have expressed optimism that they will harvest bumper yield after applying land conservation initiatives under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme.

Under the programme, the farmers implemented activities such as reclaiming gullies, constructing swales, filling up pits, making contour ridges and planting trees to restore soil fertility for farming.

In an interview on Tuesday, Zuzweni Chidothwe, a participant at Kampirakawale in T/A Kayembe, said the activities have increased the prospects of bumper harvest in the area. 

“Crop yield has dwindled over the past years due to land degradation resulting from soil erosion. However, through the initiatives, we hope we will be able to improve crop production,” he said.

Besides restoring degraded landscapes to improve crop production, the programme is also a source of income as participants receive wages for implementing the activities.

Another participant, Elizabeth Katenje, from Katsala Village, said she saved the money and bought a pig which has multiplied.

“I sold the piglets to buy fertiliser and other basic necessities,” she said.

Kampirakawale Catchment Area chairperson Harristone Makulani said many people from the area now know the importance of the programme.

The catchment area is expected to plant about 61 000 trees such as blue gam, river bean, (jerejere) white thorn, (mthethe) faidherbia albida (nsangu) and cassia.

Dowa district land resources conservation officer Tarmerson Mhone, who is also the programme’s desk officer, said he was impressed with the progress made.

The programme is facilitated by the National Local Governance Finance Committee and is funded by the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.