By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, March 4, Mana: National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) on Monday planted 1,500 tree seedlings at Msuka Primary School in Mkanje Village, Traditional Authority Nyambi, Machinga, as part of NEEF’s corporate social responsibility.

Speaking during the tree planting exercise, NEEF Regional Manager for Eastern Region, Victor Mlusu, said the initiative was meant to promote environmental conservation and hoped that it will improve livelihoods of communities in the area once the trees fully grow.

“We believe that tree planting is essential for the future. It helps to purify the air, improve the weather, and prevent soil erosion,” Mlusu added.

He said NEEF is committed to support farmers in the area through the business, and farming inputs loans for improved socio-economic livelihood.

Mlusu added that NEEF chose to plant trees in the area, considering that it has many loan beneficiaries who are committed to pay back loans.

“We have disbursed 2,100 bags of fertilizers to 418 farmers in Machinga North East. This is part of our effort to support farmers and improve food security in the area," he said, observing that the farmers' enthusiasm for farming was evident in their choice of fertilizer over cash loans.

Mlusu disclosed that NEEF plans to introduce loan officers in all agricultural Extension Planning Areas (EPA), to ensure proper coordination with farmers for easy access to loans and services.

Member of Parliament for Machinga North East, Ajiru Kalitendere, asked NEEF to continue with the corporate social responsibility in areas where they provide farm inputs and business loans.

He therefore thanked NEEF for leading in tree planting at Machinga North East, saying the exercise will help his constituents embrace issues of environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture.

Apart from local leaders and teachers, learners also took part in planting various tree species, including mango, pawpaw, nsangu and other agroforestry trees.

Msuka Primary School, Deputy Head teacher, Davie Rabison, welcomed the tree planting, saying this will have a lasting impact on learners' understanding of afforestation and the importance of environmental conservation in the wake of climate change.

Standard 2 learner, Rahim Muhammed, said NEEF led tree planting inspired him to plant more trees at home.

Traditional Authority Nyambi hailed the initiative, saying the tree planting has set the pace for people in his area to do more on afforestation this forestry season and beyond.

Nyambi encouraged people who got loans from NEEF to pay back the loans so that other people could benefit from the same.