have embraced climate-smart agriculture to enhance resilience of their crops to effects of El Nino expected in this year’s growing season.
Speaking on Wednesday during a field visit to Milonde Extension Planning Area in Sub-Traditional Authority Sunganinzeru under the Water and Soil Accelerator (Wasa) project, lead farmer Davie Thasa said they have prepared their fields to harvest rainwater and replenish soil fertility.
“Almost every field has water harvesting structures such as check-dams, swales and trenches, including application of Mbeya manure to have enough moisture and restore fertility for crops to thrive. Others will do pit planting for the same reasons,” he said.
Another farmer, Rose Lester, said they are leaving no stone unturned to enhance their resilience.
“We will diversify our crops: maize, beans, cassava and sweet potato as one or two will do better during El Nino,” she said.
Catholic Relief Services land restoration technical advisor Juma Masumba said they are committed to helping the farmers do the water management and land conservation activities on a large scale.
“We have seen that farmers want to enhance their resilience to effects of climate change. Through Wasa project, we are encouraging them to do these water management and soil conservation activities so that they reap enough despite the weather challenges,” he said.
The project is being implemented by CRS-led consortium under the International Water Management Institute with Mwapata Institute, Churches Action in Relief and Development and Illovo Sugar (Malawi) plc.
