Card donates pesticides to farmers

Churches Action in Relief and Development (Card), a faith based organisation, has distributed pesticides to communities in Dowa to help curb fall army worms that have hit their fields.

The pesticides, valued at over K1.3 million, have been distributed to 600 farmers in Nachisaka, Chibvala and Mponela extension planning areas.

The donation was in response to a report from communities the organisation works with in the area, according to Card projects officer Mavuto Phiri.

“In collaboration with our partners, Bread for the World, we felt we should respond quickly to the request from village civil protection committees to help save the crops because the pests have a devastating impact,” he said.

Phiri appealed to the beneficiaries to use the pesticides for the intended purpose.

One of the beneficiaries, Laitani Mahatchi of Minju Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mkukula in the district, hailed the organisation for the donation.

“We are happy that we have been assisted because prospects of realising a bumper yield were reduced,” he said.

Card is drills communities in disaster risk management and conservation agriculture to help communities attain food security.