Luanar saves Rumphi livestock from thirst
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) has constructed a water point worth K30 million for livestock in Rumphi.
Speaking after handing over the water point at Bolero at the weekend, Luanar vice-chancellor Professor George Kanyama-Phiri said the livestock lacked drinking water due to climate change which has led to the drying up of various rivers in the area.
“We decided to construct the water point because farmers at Bolero have over 1 000 heads of cattle and these were trekking 10 kilometres in search of water. We thought that we could mitigate that movement with this water point. Humans will also benefit through water taps we have installed for their household use,” he said.
Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining chief director of environment and climate change management Bright Kumwembe said the water point will help improve animal production.
“We expect the animals to start multiplying,” he said.
Kumwembe said government is doing research and implementing other programmes through Luanar in the Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change in Agriculture project worth $8.5 million (about K6.2 billion) investment from the Norwegian Government.
In his remarks, the area’s livestock committee chairperson Alick Msowoya said rivers dry up every summer and the long walks in search of water affect the animals as they become weak and lose weight.
