By Martin Chiwanda

Machinga, August 13, Mana: Machinga District Adaptation Fund Project Coordinator, Richard Thole says Integrated Catchment Management and Conservation can positively contribute to increased crop production for improved livelihood among farmers in the face of climate change effects.

He said this on Monday at Nanyumbu Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Traditional Authority (TA) Kawinga in Machinga District, during the launch of a district`s Integrated Catchment Management and Conservation project.

Thole said the new technologies which have been put into practice by the farmers around the EPA promote holistic approach to managing land, water and biodiversity, leading to enhanced conservation of ecosystems and improved ecosystem services.

He said farmers at Nanyumbu EPA where the project is being implemented were demonstrating remarkable resilience and adaptability thereby responding to effects of climate change. 

“We are happy as a project that farmers are now adopting the new catchment management and conservation technologies. These technologies offer farmers a lot of advantages such as increased crop production that offers greater flexibility in adapting to climate change.

“Machinga District is prone to various disasters including droughts and floods as a result of climate change. These issues affect communities greatly as they cannot harvest enough for their families, Thole said, adding that interventions which farmers adopted started bearing fruits to improve their livelihood.

He further disclosed that the launch was also meant to showcase agricultural technologies which prove to be necessary tools in responding to effects of climate change and at the same time improve crop production.

“Farmers showcase to communities and other stakeholders in the area technologies they adopted and how they benefit from the same. It is a known fact that farmers realized that the only way to address effects of climate change or impact is to use the new technologies that are useful to control running water which causes soil erosion and other forms of land degradation.” he said.

On the La Nina weather condition which is expected to hit the country in the next rainy season as forecasted by the Department of Climate Change and Metrological Services, Thole reminded farmers to still adopt new agricultural technologies to improve on crop production.

“La Nina brings heavy rains which has a negative bearing on agriculture especially in hilly areas. Farmers should therefore adopt technologies such as creation of stone bunds, check dams and water absorption pits to protect soils and regulate water flow,” he added.

Stereo Kachimanga, a farmer and member of Makenngere Bee Keeping Club said new agricultural technologies played a greater role in improving soil fertility on his piece of farm land for the two years.

“I am a good example of a farmer who benefited from the new technologies. After adopting these technologies, things changed for the better in recent years as there is an improvement in maize production on my part” said Kachimanga.

The launch was held with support from World Food Program Adaptation Fund Project.