Public works project empowers Neno farmers

Farmers in Neno District have commended the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme for equipping them with skills to turn degraded landscapes into fertile farms suitable for crop production.

During a media tour on Saturday in the area of traditional authorities (T/As) Symon and Mlauli, it transpired that some farmers who embraced climate-smart agriculture technologies implemented under the programme have turned degraded landscapes into fertile places suitable for farming.

In an interview, Khombe Catchment Area chairperson John Banda from T/A  Symon said he abandoned his farm three years ago because it lost top fertile soil due to erosion.

“I abandoned my farm due to soil erosion, but after implementing climate-smart agriculture interventions such as constructing stone bunds and pits, creating swalles and planting vetiver grass, soil erosion is history,” he said.

Another participant Chikwaya Mayeso from Mtayanyemba Catchment Area in T/A Mlauli said the technologies have enabled him to harvest more maize in his field.

“My field is one of the success stories of the programme. After constructing check dams to slow run-off and prevent gully erosion, I harvested 15 bags of maize last year,” he said.

Group village head Mtengula of T/A Symon said soil erosion affected people’s farms, making it difficult to grow crops.

“Most farmers grow crops on steep slope, as such, soil erosion affected them,” he said.

Neno district desk officer for Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme Vincent Sambuka said he was optimistic that the interventions will restore all degraded landscapes in the district.

Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project funded by the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.