By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, August 20, Mana: Mwanza West Constituency, Member of Parliament, Joyce Chitsulo has condemned laziness among some people in her area who wait for government’s handouts instead of working hard in their field to provide food for their families.

Chitsulo said this when she presided over this year's Catchment Conservation Management district launch at Chimwalira community ground, Thambani Extension Planning Area (EPA)in Traditional Authority Govati on Monday.

“We have a lot of households that are food insecure year in and year out yet they have ability to work in idle wetlands where they can do irrigation farming,” said Chitsulo.

She also deplored depletion of Thambani Forest Reserve through charcoal, saying such loss of forest cover contributes to climate change, resulting into erratic rains.

In his remarks, Senior Chief Govati asked farmers to start preparing their gardens for the rainy season so that they should plant maize and other crops in good time and further encouraged the farmers to make manure to avoid panicking when the rains start.

“You should not only depend on crops. Keep small livestock for consumption and to broaden income at your households,” added the senior chief.

District Director of Agriculture Environment and Natural Resources, Feston Kwezani urged farmers in Mwanza West Constituency to put into practice what was showcased at the Catchment Conservation Management launch so that its purpose should be achieved.

Before the launch, Chitsulo and other invited guests toured Manjenje and Makhutu irrigation schemes, manure making, goat and fish farming, bee keeping and catchment conservation activities among others.

Hunger Project and World Vision Malawi supported the launch which was held under the theme: Integrated Catchment Management and Conservation for Enhanced Climate Resilience, Improved Livelihood, Food and Nutrition Security.