By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, October 3, Mana: Communities in Mzimba are hoping for a better agricultural season in the 2024/2025 farming season as they have intensified works to restore degraded lands through the enhanced public works interventions taking place in 19 catchment areas of the district.

A farmer, Grace Nyirenda from Msipazi Catchment Area in Traditional Authority (TA) Kampingo Sibande said land degradation has made her realise low yields in recent years.

‘‘The major problem was run off water but we have created swales in the gardens and contour ridges. We hope this will help hold both water and soil’’, she said.

Another farmer, Laston Nkunika from the same area said soil erosion was a challenge in the area, leading to loss of soil fertility.

‘‘Last growing season we planted vetiva grass. We also planted trees as part of reclaiming back the land. In addition to that, we have been working on gullies; patching them up and also creating trenches. We hope this will do the trick and enable us harvest more in the coming year,’’ he said.

M’mbelwa District Council Land Resources Conservation and Desk Officer for the Programme, Olive Nyalira said enrolled farmers and community members are coming out to take part in the works that aim at restoring fertility to the lands through climate-smart interventions.

‘‘The second phase started over three weeks ago and is progressing well. We are delighted that farmers have also contributed to the community works that precede the paid work interventions. This is phase two of the program and all is on track,’’ she said.

The Community members are participating in making stone bands and contour ridges, digging deep trenches, installing check dams, and making swales to control runoff.

According to one of the extension workers for Msipazi Catchment Area in TA Kampingo Sibande, Joseph Chawinga, community members have embraced the public works program as a means of solving perennial problems of land degradation.

He cited poor crop yields registered by the farmers due to runoff water which erodes soil fertility as some of the problems the programme is trying to solve.

‘‘For the farmers that know the consequences of runoff water, they know the importance of coming to take part in these works. Since we started these works have been overwhelming and by the end of 24 working days a lot will be done,’’ Chawinga said.

Assistant Extension Development Officer for Vibangalala Extension Planning Area (EPA) which oversees Chiputa catchment in TA Mzukuzuku Kennedy Malumbi expressed hope that farmers would have improved crop yields.

Over 12 000 people are taking part in the climate-smart interventions funded by the World Bank and multi-donor trust fund.

The programme is under the social support for resilient livelihood projects.