People in Blantyre and Thyolo districts have hailed the Transforming Agriculture through Diversification Entrepreneurship (Trade) programme for empowering them with knowledge on how to harness biogas as a source of energy and fertiliser production.
Trade programme, in partnership with Ecogen, is implementing the initiative to address climate change shocks caused by deforestation.
The intervention uses cattle dung mixed with water to produce energy for cooking.
One of the farmers, Damiano Kadewele from Mpeni Milk Bulking Group in Traditional Authority (T/A) Bvumbwe in Thyolo District, speaking on Saturday during a media tour, said they previously used to spend money on charcoal and firewood, which is no longer the case.
| Wisdom Chirombo
Another farmer, Rose Kidney January from Goliath Milk Bulking Group under Matapwata Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Thyolo, said biogas cooks faster and is smoke-free.
On his part, Misfortune Mtuwe from group village head Likomba, T/A Machinjiri under Chipande EPA in Blantyre, said biogas technology helps to generate composted manure which improves soil fertility.
“We used to buy chemical fertilisers, but now our economic status has improved because we no longer rely on chemical fertilisers,” he said.
Blantyre district agriculture desk officer John Nyanga described Trade programme as a saviour for rural farmers.
He said: “The programme has improved the lives of rural farmers by linking them to markets and constructing infrastructure such as markets, warehouses, roads and bridges to facilitate commercialisation.
“Furthermore, Trade has equipped farmers with skills in biogas production and compost fertiliser.”
Trade programme communication specialist Oscar Ulili highlighted the programme’s mission to transform the lives of rural farmers through agricultural commercialisation.
“The programme is designed to enhance sustainable livelihoods of smallholder farmers in rural areas by engaging them in various commodity commercialisation activities,” he said.
Trade programme is running with support from International Fund for Agricultural Development and Opec Fund for International Development
