By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, November 20, Mana: Some participants under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) in Chitipa District have hailed the programme saying it has assisted local farmers to replicate what they are learning in the programme to their fields.

One of the participants, Steven Mughogho of Wanjenjema village in Traditional Authority (TA) Nthalire in Chitipa District says through the programme he has constructed swales and contour ridges in his garden to help fight land degradation.

Mughogho, who is under Thete catchment, says his farmland had a lot of gullies and after learning how to construct swales and marker ridges, loss of topsoil in his farmland is a thing of the past.

“Since I started making my own manure, constructing swales, marker and contour ridges in my farmland, I have noticed that topsoil, which I used to lose is intact,” Mughogho said.

Another participant, Alice Nyondo said the last farming season she realized higher maize yields than her neighbours because she applied what she learns from public works programme.

“I constructed swales which helped hold water and made my farmland wet hence my crops were able to survive during last year's dry spell,” she said.

Agriculture Extension Development Officer (AEDO) for Kavomolo, Solomon Mbale said on manure making and application, a number of farmers are able to harvest more yields without chemical fertilizers.

CS-EPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP) supported by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust

Fund.