Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme participants in Mchinji District have set up tree nurseries to support afforestation activities during the 2024/25 National Tree Planting Season.
The participants, who have already completed working on soil and water conservation interventions such as making swales and reclaiming gullies, are expected to plant trees in all catchment areas to restore the depleted vegetative cover.
In an interview on Friday, Puye Catchment Area supervisor Emmanuel Sandikonda from Traditional Authority (T/A) Matuwamba, said they established tree nurseries in readiness for afforestation interventions during the rainy season.
“We warnt to plant trees during the rainy season to help recover forests and reduce water runoff,” he said.
On his part, Mwimbi Catchment Area chairperson Geresomo said people in T/A Simphasi have established a tree nursery to have enough seedlings ahead of the rainy season.
“As community contribution in the implementation of the programme, we spared our time to establish nurseries and raise more seedlings to plant on a large area,” he said.
Mchinji district forestry officer Fortune Mwafulirwa said the preparations were going on well as evidenced by the presence of tree nurseries.
“I advise participants to take care of the nurseries and follow advice from forestry extension workers to successfully implement their activities,” he said.
Some of the local tree species that participants are raising in nurseries include nsangu, ntangatanga, m’bawa and mthethe.
Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme supported by the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
Source:The nation-Vincent Khonje-Malawi news agency-11 N0vember 2024