Public Works Programme to improve agriculture 

People of Traditional Authority Kachindamoto in Dedza have said Climate Smart Public Works Programe will improve farming in the district as it will address the effects of climate change.

Speaking on Tuesday during formulation of village level action plans, one of the participants, Simiyani Juvesiyo from Nthanthamala Village, said careless cutting down of trees affected the rainfall pattern in the area.

“As a result, the area receives less rainfall, which affects crop production. As such, many families are food-insecure,” he said.

Juvesiyo said the programme will encourage people to plant trees and conserve the environment, thereby restoring vegetative cover.

“Soil fertility will return and rainfall will not be erratic, resulting in improved crop production,” he said.

Village head Nkhumbi said the area is experiencing more gender-based violence cases and theft because of hunger as many households fail to produce enough to feed themselves.

“We rely on farming, yet we do not harvest enough. This has led people to promiscuous behaviour and theft to feed their families,” he said.

The chief commended government for introducing the programme in his area, saying it will not only address the environmental challenges, but also empower the programme’s participants economically as they will receive wages.

Speaking last week during the training of extension workers on integrated watershed management, Dedza acting district commissioner George Ngaiyaye said most of the land in the district has lost fertility due to poor land management.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders in the implementation of the programme to work in collaboration.

Malawi Government is implementing the programme with funding from the World Bank.