CBO embarks on winter cropping

Lusubilo Community-Based Orphanage Care (CBO) centre in Karonga has advised people around Kayelekera and Chitemwano irrigation sites to take winter cropping seriously if the district is to avert hunger.

Lusubilo CBO executive director VitumbikoNgwira  said this on Saturday during a monitoring and evaluation tour of the Sustainable Options Recommended for Testing (Sort) project. His organisation is implementing this project with technical support from district agriculture extension coordinating committee.

Ngwira said the project’s aim is to reduce poverty  by increasing household income and food security.

“We are glad that the project has assisted peasant farmers who have vast land but did not have potential access to farm inputs such as seeds and fertilisers that could help them grow crops twice a year through irrigation,” he said.

One of the project’s beneficiaries Issah Mkwala hailed Lusubilo CBO for the project, saying through it, he has learnt modern farming practices which enable him to produce 2 150 kilogramme of rice per acre.

“With Sort, I am able to produce enough for food and for sale to meet my household’s basic needs that include supporting my children in school,” he said.

Coppell Family of Mexico is implementing the project to improve food security for poor and vulnerable families and is being implemented in three districts of Karonga, Chitipa and Rumphi with over 2 400 beneficiaries cultivating about 420 acres of land.

The support to the poor and vulnerable households includes seeds of rice, maize, beans, vegetables and fertiliser.