Farmers in Traditional Authority Zilakoma in Nkhata Bay have expressed satisfaction with the impact of the Integrated Farming Plan in the district.
The Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian introduced the project in 2023 with funding from Help a Child to promote soil and land conservation to enable farmers to increase food production and household income.
Currently, over 100 farmers in the area are practising integrated farming and have conserved about 97.6 acres of farmland.
In an interview on Wednesday, a farmer, Margaret Manda from Fakeya Village said the project has improved her life.
“My life has changed because I am now able to support my family using modern farming methods,” she said.
Manda said she has built a house, opened a barbershop and bought goats.
Another beneficiary, Monica Chavula from Mganga Village, said she has bought cattle and the training on making organic manure has helped her achieve bumper yields.
Livingstonia Synod Action Programme (Lisap) project manager Charity Nyirenda said the project was part of the Child-Centred Community Project which focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture.
“I am pleased that farmers are applying what they learned and improving their lives while sharing knowledge with others,” she said.
Nyirenda highlighted that many farmers have constructed houses and bought livestock.
Nkhata Bay District Council chief agriculture officer Sellina Malaga commended the synod for implementing the project.
She called on other development partners to adopt similar approaches to promote food security in the district.
