By Maria Tembo

Ntchisi, January 17, Mana: Participants to the World Bank-funded Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) in Banja micro-catchment in Senior Chief Nthondo, Ntchisi district have applauded the project saying it has brought developmental benefits.

One of the participants in the micro-catchment, which falls under Kavuma catchment area, Tiberia Nsungwi, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) during a media tour over the weekend that apart from the 10,000 tree seedlings that are meant to restore forest cover, the locals were also provided with fruit seedlings which have been transplanted in households of all the 99 participants.

“We have so far transplanted at least three personal paw-paw trees for each household some of which, when they are fully grown, will be consumed by our families while some will be sold and ordered out to other fruit selling business people. We have all hope that this will economically empower our households.

“We plan to plant more varieties of fruit trees through the same initiative and we believe that, going forward, more people will benefit from the same,” said Nsungwi.

A foreman for Kavuma catchment area, Angel Sauzande said, through the project, participants are able to support their families with basic needs through the monthly K28,000 payments they get for their participation.

Sauzande said when the tree nurseries grow into forests, they will serve multiple benefits in the catchment area including reversing climate change woes that have hit the district in the recent past due to land degradation.

“We have also suffered demolition of houses due to strong winds that often hit our catchment area and the forest will serve as a wind breaker to shield our houses” explained Sauzande.

The CW-EPWP is a government initiative being implemented in ten district councils by the National Local Government Finance Committee to enhance climate resilience.