By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, November 20, Mana: Chitipa District Forestry Office has urged communities under Climate Smart Enhance Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) in the district to start collecting tree seeds locally to ensure high survival rate when the seedlings are planted.

In an interview, District Forestry Officer for Chitipa, Daniel Mbeu said if communities start collecting seeds locally they will have fresh seeds that have adaptive characteristics leading to higher survival rate.

“We are encouraging participants under community contribution of CS-EPWP to start collecting seeds from their forests. This will help to reduce expenses they incur and the seeds germination rate is good," he said.

He noted with concern that some of the seeds which communities procured had poor germination rate hence the need to start collecting seeds locally, which he said has proved to be the best.

“Those communities that collected seeds locally and planted, the germination rate are very encouraging. That is why we are encouraging communities in different catchment areas to emulate the same,” he said.

One of the participants at Yamba catchment, Lyson Silumbu said local collection of seeds has helped raise 18, 000 seedlings for the catchment area.

Silumbu said local collection of seeds has assisted the area save money, saying they have only spent on procuring polythene tubes.

“Local collection of seeds is good because the germination rate is very good. And the seedlings are growing very healthy,” Silumbu said.

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.