Public works project restores degraded land
People from Balaka District say the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme has restored 175 out of 250 targeted hectares of degraded land and forests in the area.
Ntumbwe Micro Catchment Area committee member Frank Zagwa said on Monday during a media tour that participants are focusing much on forest regeneration, construction of swales, gully reclamation and marker ridges.
He said: “This programme has changed the way people from Traditional Authority [T/A] Kachenga used to farm. Our land was bare and we faced challenges such as low crop yields and lack of firewood.
“Now we are seeing trees growing again and the soil is holding more moisture.”
The area’s forestry officer Enock Bonongwe said the construction of swales was helping to reduce soil erosion.
“As such, people are able to harvest much yield,” he said.
Group village head Sakaiko from T/A Nsamala said climate-smart agriculture practices have proved to be helpful.
“Using structures such as swales has helped people to harvest rainwater,” he said.
Another participant, Alinafe Dingaliro, from Dzalimwe Catchment Area in T/A Nkaya said the project has transformed her life because the money she received was invested into a small-scale business.
Balaka district director of planning and development Chris Nawata said the initiative, which seeks to empower communities to embrace climate resilience and modern farming practice, has reached out to 23 000 participants.
“We have just finished the project’s second cycle in which we had 20 catchment areas,” he said.
The programme is being implemented by National Local Government Finance Committee with funding from the World Bank and Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
