NGO to train 6 000 farmers in farming techniques

Local agricultural promotion non-governmental organisation Youth Alliance for Sustainable Development (Yasd) says it will train 6 000 farmers in Mchinji in low-cost sustainable farming techniques under its three-month Food Forest Project.

Yasd communications and publicity officer Owen Zayambika said this during the graduation of 100 permaculture farmers under Mtenthera Farmers Club in Traditional Authority (T/A) Simphasi in the district.

“Permaculture is a low-cost farming technique to help farmers make their homes food-secure using the resources they already have,” he said.

Zayambika said the five-day training developed farmers’ capacity to produce food in their homes using locally available resources.

“Our target is to train 600 farmers who will in turn train others to reach the desired target of 6 000,” he said.

One of the trainers, Nepiyala Nkhwali, said the country is facing a number of challenges such as drought and hunger.

“Permaculture hinges on identifying challenges and addressing them using local means to eradicate chronic farming challenges in the district,” he said.

Nkhwali noted that inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides are expensive and continue endangering human bodies.

Mtenthera Farmers Club chairperson Gabriel Vincent hailed Yasd for the good initiative, saying the training equipped them with life-time knowledge.

Yasd is implementing the Food Forest Project in Mchinji with support from Permaculture Paradise Institute.