Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme participants in Dowa District have commended the safety net initiative for empowering them economically.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, a participant Bless Kashamba from Chinkhwiridambwe under Kaphirisiwa Catchment Area in Traditional Authority (T/A) Nkukula, said he ventured into livestock farming and crop production as a result of the programme.
He said: “I bought a goat after receiving my wages in 2023. As of now, I have four goats and I know the numbers will continue growing.
“I sold a goat at K60 000 and raised money to buy school uniform for children.”
Kashamba said besides making money from the project, they are also implementing projects to conserve land.
“At the start of the project in 2022, most of the land was degraded as people cut down trees carelessly. This affected crop production, but now we reserved the situation,” she said.
Another participant Thokozire Nkule from Chipeka Catchment Area in T/A Mponela said people are now getting bumper yields.
She said: “In the past, heavy rains used to affect crop yield, but we implemented interventions such as swales and deep trenches which slow runoff water.
“Besides improving crop production, we are also saving our money in village savings and loans groups.”
Dowa district director of planning and development Mercy Mpakule said the programme has benefitted 23 000 people in the district.
She said: “We have seen people’s lives changing. Many people depend on farming. So, when they receive the money, they invest some of it in farming activities.
“Participants also learn how to make organic manure, which has improved soil fertility.”
The World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund are supporting the project.
