By Lekereni Chinkhota

Salima, July 15, Mana: Director of Agriculture Services for Salima District Council, Enford Kanyimbo, has urged farmers in the district to practice smart modern ways of agriculture in order to achieve resilience, as the country is experiencing climate change that is affecting crop production.

Kanyimbo made the remarks over the weekend after touring different sites with support from African Development Bank to appreciate the impact of El Nino, which has resulted in low crop production for most farmers in the district.

“El Nino affected all sectors of production in the district and farmers of all categories were affected. We urge these farmers to rely and improve their irrigation system so that they should build resilience," he said.

He said, through irrigation, farmers can be able to cultivate twice or three times a year which can greatly improve food security.

Kanyimbo hailed the support African Development Bank (ADB) is rendering to the citizens of the district and the fisheries service which has led to the construction of Chilambula landing site.

“The site will provide drying and cleaning environment for fish and storage rooms. It has created employment and achieved nutrition security through fish products that provide over 70 percent of body proteins we use in the country. This will help us, as a district, to export fisheries products and create employment for our people,” he said.

Director of Transition States Coordination Officer for ADB, Yero Baldeh, appreciated efforts farmers are taking to cope up with climate change.

“I appreciate the farmers’ steadfastness, eagerness and commitment to achieving resilience. Our services as ADB are for the people, we hear their point of view, challenges they are facing and what is happening in order to bring services needed to them,” he said.

ADB has assured citizens from Salima of its commitment to continue rendering support through Sustainable Fisheries, Aquaculture Development and Watershed Management (SFAD-WM) project being implemented in the district.

Esther Manja, a farmer at Mafuka Scheme, from Ngoma Village of Traditional Authority Kambalame in the district hailed the visit as encouraging because farmers were able to voice out their problems to both government and its partners.

“Rain fed agriculture did not benefit us much because we experienced dry spells before our crops started producing. The crops withered that left us with nothing in our homes. Irrigation is our only way of survival,” she said.

ADB entourage toured Malawi Mangoes Farm, Mafuka Irrigation Scheme and Chilambula landing site to appreciate various activities being undertaken to empower farmers to achieve resilience.