By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, June 1, Mana: Lilongwe based non-governmental organization, Point of Progress, is set to launch an agricultural project dubbed Transformative Livelihood Improvement through Management of Ecosystems (Tilime) in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Kabudula in Lilongwe.

The project which will be funded by IM Swedish Development Partner Southern Africa seeks to empower youth from TA Kabudula with farming skills and resources for them to venture into agri-business and become economically independent.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Friday, Point of Progress Head of Programmes, Innocent Luesha, said they decided to implement the project in TA Kabudula after their survey revealed that youths in the area lack empowerment.  

“Our baseline survey indicated that TA Kabudula is lacking a number of interventions in youth economic empowerment hence our decision to implement the project in the area,” he said.

The survey also indicated that Tilime project would produce positive results in TA Kabudula in fostering economic transformation among the youth in the area.

Luesha said his organization is focused to provide various agricultural interventions among the youth including irrigation and mechanization, value addition, market access as well as policy advocacy in relation to climate change and agriculture.

Currently, Point of Progress has engaged Lilongwe District Council and Ministry of Agriculture to support in the implementation of the project.

Lilongwe West Agriculture Officer, Joseph Mtengezo, commended Point of Progress for its mission to rollout the project.

“Tilime Project will be helpful in providing a forum for the youth from TA Kabudula to learn agriculture as it comes in to assist in the production of crops,” Mtengezo explained.

He asked Point of Progress to expand the project to other districts so that it benefits more youths in the country.