By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, December 20, Mana: Mzimba Land Resource Officer, Rodgers Nkhoma has urged communities in the district to take land restoration interventions under the second cycle of Enhanced Climate Smart Public Works Programme (ECSPWP) seriously as they have a direct bearing on their agricultural productivity.

Nkhoma was speaking Tuesday at Thundwe Catchment area in Traditional Authority (TA) Kampingo Sibande, which is one of the 16 catchment areas in Mzimba District taking part in second cycle of ECSPWP.

“The programme aims at restoring degraded escarpments; that is why participants plant trees, dig up swales and plant vetiver grass that help in bringing back lost fertility,” said Nkhoma.

He said poor management of natural resources, such as soil, has resulted in soil degradation such that farmers are failing to harvest to the optimum.

“There are many ways in which we can prevent further degradation of the environment. People should stop cutting down trees carelessly. They should instead use natural resources sustainably so that the natural resources should take care of them in return,” Nkhoma said.

A representative of Group Village Headman Mzondi under Thundwe Catchment Area said participants in the ECSPWP are ready to embrace climate smart agriculture technologies including planting trees and making swales.