Project promotes best farming practices

M’Mbelwa District Council principal nutrition, HIV and Aids officer Patrick Manyowa has touted Afikepo and Catholic Relief Services’ Performance Based Incentive model for  promoting modern farming practices in Mzimba.

Speaking on Tuesday at the end of a three-day trainer of trainers workshop for Mzimba District Nutrition Coordinating Committee members, he said the project seeks to reward best communities, cluster leaders and promoters in adopting and fostering recommended nutrition and best farming practices.

“The introduction of these rewards will motivate local community structures to continue working hard, thereby improving nutrition statuses of people in the district,” he said.

Catholic Relief Services project officer Joseph Zimba, who facilitated the training, said Afikepo and Catholic Relief Services have pumped in K2 billion in the year-long project set to roll out in 10 districts.

“The Performance Based Incentive approach seeks to accelerate knowledge transfer and adoption of recommended maternal, infant and young children nutrition and nutrition sensitive agriculture practices,” he said.

Zimba said the awards will include buckets, T-shirts and money.

M’Mbelwa District Council nutrition coordinating committee chairperson Christopher Melele hailed the project, saying it will help to sustain the Afikepo Nutrition Project funded by Food Agriculture Organisation and Unicef.

“The project seeks to scale up the uptake of nutrition interventions in communities in seven traditional authorities in Mzimba,” he said.