By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, June 10, Mana: Jesuit Centre for Ecology and Development has supported farmers in Nkanalumo Village, Sub-Traditional Suza, in Kasungu District, with goats in a drive to diversify sources of income and build resilience for vulnerable communities.

Presenting the goats on Tuesday, the faith-based organization’s Field Project Officer, Felister Neddie, said the initiative targets the most vulnerable households to shield them from the effects of climate change by building and enhancing their resilience with diversified farming approaches.

“This is a livestock pass-on scheme that will ensure that the vulnerable farmers venture into livestock production as a source of livelihood to improve their income levels.

“The programme is also promoting livestock production, thereby increasing the contribution of livestock towards climate change mitigation and resilience, and ensuring availability of locally produced livestock products within the impact areas,” Neddie said.

She said the scheme, which is part of the larger Tasintha Mlimi Project, has targeted to distribute 50 goats to 10 households, with each family receiving five goats, to enhance the households’ adaptive capacities.

Agriculture Extension and Development Coordinator for Chipala Extension and Planning Area, Albert Kumwenda, said apart from improving the communities’ nutritional status, the goats will promote climate-smart agriculture practices through harvesting of manure.

“This time we are promoting manure-making not only because of the rising costs of farm inputs, but also because of the effects of climate change since organic manure helps with moisture retention.

“This is a pass-on scheme so all we want to see is that the goats must be taken care of so that other families should also benefit and become independent,” Kumwenda said.

One of the recipients Ellah Nyirenda expressed excitement with the support, describing it as a timely intervention that will help boost her farming activities through manure harvesting and be able to support the education of her children.

She also advised the other beneficiaries not to sell the goats so that they could pass them on to other families.