Climate Just Communities Project Winter Cropping initiative bears fruits
By Noel Chatepa
Five hundred farmers in the area of Traditional Authority Wasambo of the Karonga district received maize seed and fertilizer from the CADECOM Karonga Diocese’s Climate Just Communities project which it is implementing with funding from Scottish Government through DAI Global UK. This initiative is an effort to alleviate the effects of the drought that hit the region in 2023, affecting around 38,605 farmers.
Saulos Gondwe a businessman(butcher), aged 32 and a father of two is a club member of Uliwa-Nthilira Timazge Njala club from GVH Mwamtawali in T/A Wasambo whose members got farm inputs for winter cropping from CADECOM in June 2024.
“I was one of twenty-one people from my community selected as beneficiaries when CADECOM called for community suggestions. We were given a starter pack of maize seed and fertilizer by the project in June, we made land preparations and with assistance from CADECOM and Government officials we were taught sustainable farming methods”, Saulos says.
Saulos expresses his joy, “this is my first time to engage in winter cropping, initially I cannot deny I had my fears but with the support from my fellow club members and CADECOM, I have seen my maize grow and I believe I will have a good harvest”.
The field officers closely observed each farmer as they were given 2 kg of Kalulu maize variety seed, 10 kg of urea, and 10 kg of NPK. The community was also positively affected by the farmers’ progress. Out of the original 21 farmers who were supported by the project, 27 more farmers independently joined, bought their own inputs, and are now part of the program, receiving technical assistance from the project.