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Norway pumps K3.3bn in climate change project

 

The Norwegian Government has pumped $4.3 million (about K3.3 billion) into increased resilience of vulnerable populations to impacts of climate-related risks in Malawi.

First Secretary responsible for Agriculture and Environment at the Royal Norwegian Embassy Jan Erik Studsrod said in an interview there is need for combined effort by government and citizens to fight climate change so that affected populations can adapt to its effects.

Climate change affects agricultural production

Speaking during the launch of second phase of Adaptation Programme in Africa at the weekend, Studsrod said climate change is real and people need to start thinking of ways to adapt to the changes.

He said: “It is important to act on climate change. There is need to provide enhanced capacity to communities and government departments to use climate services in decision making processes.”

On his part, chief director of Environment and Climate Change Management in the Department of Climate Change, Bright Kumwembe said there are increasing occurrences of extreme weather conditions globally; hence, need to complement the knowledge communities’ have with science to plan for the future.

“With climate services, farmers can plan better to deal with droughts or floods, disaster management agencies can prepare the response ahead of time,” he said.

The first phase was from 2014 to 2017 and was conducted in nine districts of Karonga, Kasungu, Nkhotakota, Lilongwe, Salima, Chikwawa, Phalombe, Blantyre and Balaka.

The second phase will cover five districts namely Balaka, Zomba, Nsanje, Lilongwe, and Chikwawa from September 2018 to December 2019. n

 

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