Lilongwe communities embrace fruit farming

We Clean We Green has introduced fruit farming in Traditional Authority Kabudula in Lilongwe District as part of initiatives to improve sustainable agroforestry systems.

On Tuesday the organisation donated vegetable seeds, fruit seedlings of mangoes, peaches, avocado pears, oranges as well as leguminous tree seedlings to 100 households at Mjumpha Village.

The organisation also handed over watering canes to the community members to help them take care of the seedlings.

Speaking during the handover on Tuesday, We Clean We Green executive director Pike Ng’oma said they want to improve the people’s nutrition status in the area.

He said they want to use indigenous forest garden approach to regenerate soil to build back biodiversity to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Said Ng’oma: “Fruits will improve the nutrition of people in rural areas who mostly depend on nsima. We encourage them to grow fruits because they contain important vitamins and minerals.

“Families can also sell the fruits at local markets to generate income.”

He said they were planning to introduce livestock farming to support the agroforestry systems to help increase soil fertility through manure production.

Speaking on behalf of group village head Mjumpha, Catherine Nyontho said they welcomed the initiative.

“This will go a long way in improving people’s nutrition. In this area, malnutrition is a major cause poor health among children and the fruits will complement other foodstuffs to make a full diet comprising six food groups,” she said.

With funding from Littlefish Foundation, We Clean We Green is implementing the initiative in Lilongwe.