People from Chitimba in Sub-Traditional Authority (ST/A) Chiwiriwiri in Rumphi District have embarked on initiatives aimed at mitigating adverse effects of climate change.
The communities are implementing the interventions under Least Developed Countries Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience.
District. | Manasse Nyirenda
In an interview on Tuesday, acting Sub-T/A Chiwiriwiri said his subjects have started planting bananas and preserving forests to reverse deforestation.
He said: “We are also implementing activities to conserve soil and water by making swales and planting vetiver grass.
“These activities will restore soil fertility and help improve crop yield.”
On his part, Rumphi district commissioner Emmanuel Bulukutu said like other districts in the country, Rumphi has been affected by climate change which has resulted in reduced agricultural production.
“The council has come up with a number of interventions to counter these adverse effects, including restoring degraded forests through forest regeneration, planting trees and conducting other water and soil conservation interventions.
“We hope these interventions will reduce the adverse effects of climate change such as drought and soil erosion.”
A community member Loveness Nyirenda said other initiatives under the project such as goat pass-on intervention have empowered community members economically.
Rumphi district desk officer Gift Nyirenda says the project has the potential to transform people’s livelihoods through various interventions.
“People in this area depend on fishing, but fish catches are dwindling.
“We hope the initiatives will give them an alternative to fishing.”
The project is running on a pilot phase in Rumphi, Salima and Mangochi with funding from the United Kingdom, Ireland and United States.
