By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, November 15, Mana: Communities under Kakolo catchment in Dedza district on Thursday said there are high expectations of improved soil fertility following the check dams and stone bands that have been constructed under the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CS-EPWP), in the area.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, one of the programme participants, Timvezina Ndindilosi said previously running water from the hills used to wash away the fertile soils and people could not harvest bumper yield regardless of their farming efforts.

“The programme has motivated us and we will continue gathering stones to protect the soil. Through the programme, we now know how to construct stone bands as you can see. We are also into natural tree regeneration and all these are helping to control running water from the hills,” she said.

Concurring with Ndindilosi, Group Village Headman (GVH) Mtema commended Dedza District Council, government and other partners for the support adding that for a long time, soil erosion has negatively affected crop production, especially for farmers cultivating down Dzenza hills in his area.

In her remarks, Agriculture Extension Development Officer for Kaphuka Extension Planning Area (EPA), Elessie Phiri said the stone bands will help in slowing down running water.

“Apart from controlling the running waters, communities are also making manure to improve soil fertility. Participants are receiving K48 000 a month,” she said.

Kakolo catchment under T/A Kaphuka has 1384 programme participants.

Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Program aims to build resilience to climatic shocks and is being implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) through the district council with support from the Malawi Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund, World Bank, USAID, Iceland, Ireland, UK-FCDO, EU and Norway.