By Bishop Witmos 

Mangochi, September 16, Mana: Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) has provided the grants to ensure that communities within Shire River Basin in Mangochi have other alternative means of income other than encroaching forest reserves to degrading the environment for a living.

The matching grants are amounting to K557 million to farmer groups and agri-enterprises in Lower Lingamasa catchment to improve people’s livelihood through participating in cash for work catchment management and other climate smart agricultural related activities.

MWASIP which is being implemented to restore environment within the Shire River Basin has also provided support towards extension services, including provision of five new motorcycles amounting to K 70 million to extension workers in the catchment.

Handing over the funds and the motorcycles over the week end, MWASIP Deputy Director, Joseph Kanyangalazi said that, ‘‘Shire River is one of the important water bodies in the country and this was where electricity was generated apart from pumping of water for irrigation and consumption. We want to help communities to conserve the basin.

‘During the initial implementation of the project, we however observed that some communities resorted to exploit natural resources to earn a living. This is why we thought of addressing the challenge by giving community members alternative source of livelihood, hence the grants.’’ 

MWASIP intends to restore over to 4,500 hectares of land in Mangochi through afforestation, construction of stone bands amongst other water and land conservation measures in several catchments.

Chairperson for Mangochi District Council, Councilor, Yusuf Abdullar commended government for introducing MWASIP in the district and acknowledged the positive impact of the project.

He said the project helped in mobilizing communities to restore the environment apart from transforming communities’ livelihood.

‘We are thankful to government for the grants because this will help communities in Mangochi to engage in farming and other lawful income generating activities.’’

 ‘‘I am sure the assistance will encourage communities to find alternative ways of generating income other than degradation the environment for survival,’’ Abdullar said.

With support from the World Bank, MWASIP is working in Lower Lingamasa catchment, for integrated catchment conservation and management following serious degradation of land due to irresponsible cutting down of trees for charcoal production and timber, among other human activities that negatively impact on environment.