The Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining plans to spend about K3.1 billion of the K5 billion allocated towards the Malawi Youth Afforestation Programme (MYFP) on wages while only K600 million will be used to procure tree seedlings.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Welani Chilenga disclosed this in Parliament on Tuesday in response to a query from Dedza East legislator Juliana Lunguzi (Malawi Congress Party – MCP) on the ministry’s policy regarding afforestation programmes in the country. The MYFP was announced this year with the aim of offering income to the youth for them to plant trees and carry out natural regeneration management in areas with the potential to regenerate naturally. Chilenga said the programme would result in 25 000 hectares of trees planted and enhance regeneration on 100 000 hectares.
“The total estimated budget for the 2018/19 financial year is K5 billion. Most notable highlights are that K3.1 billion is to be spent on wages. K600 million will be used to procure seedlings, K164 million will be used for procuring fire fighting equipment,” Chilenga said. Out of K5 billion, only K1.5 billion was included in the ministry’s budget while K3.5 billion is expected to come from the Local Development Fund (LDF).
Some MPs expressed concern that like previous youth programmes, the likelihood of governing party agents taking control of the project is likely or only those who are friendly with the government benefitting. But Chilenga dismissed these fears, arguing that youth non-governmental organisations already registered with councils would identify those to take part in the programme.
The programme will be implemented on the principle that there would be no movement of youths from one districts to another and that youths would come from the areas under consideration. “The second principle is that there shall be no movement of seedlings from one district to another. Seeds shall be procured from the district concerned,” Chilenga said.
So far, consultations have been conducted to identify areas to be planted and active youth groups in each district. The Department of Forestry has so far received K297 million, part of which has been used to initiate a restoration site mapping exercise.
(Source: The Nation Malawi, 13th December 2018)