World Vision distributes500 goats in Nsanje

World Vision Malawi has distributed 500 goats to 200 ultra-poor households in Senior Chief Chimombo in Nsanje District to empower them economically.

Speaking on Saturday after the handover, World Vision Nsanje district manager Samson Semu said the pass-on programme seeks to build people’s resilience amid the impact of climate change such as floods and drought.

He said besides distributing the goats, they also trained the beneficiaries on livestock farming techniques and gave them medicine for their animals.

“We spent K102 million to procure the goats, conduct the training and buy the medicine. We want to empower families in Senior Chief Chimombo to be able to take care of children,” said Semu.

Nsanje District Council animal health and livestock development officer Lastone Zam’mimba thanked World Vision for the initiative and asked families who received the goats to take care of them.

He said the initiative was in line with government’s long-term development strategy, the Malawi 2063 whose goal is to improve people’s well-being.

“Livestock farming will empower the beneficiaries economically and it will also improve the nutrition status of children in the district,” said Zam’mimba.

He said Nsanje is one of the districts prone to disasters such as floods, which often affect crop production, leading to hunger, as such, the initiative will solve the food-insecurity problem.

One of the beneficiaries, Mary Tembo from M’bweza Village said the animals will build their resilience.

She said: “More often we fail to harvest enough because of floods or drought, as such, having goats will help me generate income through sales.

“Besides selling the goats, I will get manure which will help in crop production amid escalating prices of fertiliser.”

World Vision Malawi donated the goats with support from World Vision New Zealand.