By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, May 26, Mana: Communities from Chitimba in Sub Traditional Authority Chiwiriwiri in Rumphi have embarked on initiatives aimed at mitigating adverse effects of climate change under Least Developed Countries Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE- AR).

Acting Sub-Traditional Authority Chiwiriwiri said on Monday his community has been experiencing frequent flooding, resulting in loss of crops and livestock due adverse effects of climate change.  

“We have already started planting bananas and preserving forests under water and soil conservation where we are making swales and planting vetiva grass to conserve water and reduce soil erosion. This will ensure soil fertility, leading to better harvest,” said Chiwiriwiri, and that the traditional leaders have, also, put in place by-laws to fight deforestation.

He further said a hydrometric station constructed under the project will protect lives and properties through the flood warning system.   

District Commissioner for Rumphi, Emmanuel Bulukutu, said, like many other districts in the country, Rumphi has been affected by climate change which has resulted in reduced agricultural production, to loss of soil fertility and other challenges.

“The council has come up with a number of interventions under LIFE AR Project to counter these adverse effects, including restoring degraded forests through forest regeneration, planting of trees and other water and soil conservation interventions.

“We are hoping these will reduce the adverse effects such as drought, soil erosion and others. The projects will also supply water to the communities in Chitimba, which will be tapped from Holy Water around Livingstonia.   

A member of the community, Loveness Nyirenda, said other initiatives under the project, such as goat pass on, fruit trees and the water project, will enhance economic activities and also ensure safety from waterborne diseases in the area, as they will have access to clean water.

Desk Officer for the project in Rumphi, Gift Nyirenda, says the project has the potential to transform people's livelihoods through various interventions being implemented under the project.

"People in this area depend on fishing, but the catch is no longer the same,” observed Nyirenda. “They are catching less and less fish, but we hope that the goat pass-on programme, banana suckers, and fruit tree seedlings, will give them an alternative to fishing and enhance their resilience to climate shocks,” Nyirenda, added. 

The project is being piloted in Rumphi, Salima and Mangochi with funding from the United Kingdom, Ireland and United States. Rumphi received K454million for implementation of various interventions at Chitimba in Sub Traditional Authority Chiwiriwiri.