Fisd to equip farmers to protect environment

Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (Fisd), an organisation that runs natural resource management programmes, says it is committed to ensuring active participation among people in the restoration and protection of the country’s natural resources.

Fisd project manager Levie Gomagoma said this at Traditional Authority (T/A) Lundu’s headquarters in Blantyre during an awareness campaign against deforestation.

The campaign follows the implementation of Integrated Approach to Natural Resources Management and Conservation for sustainable Hydro-power (Ina-cosh) in T/As Lundu and Chigalu that seek to prevent environmental degradation.

He said protection of natural resources requires concerted efforts among different stakeholders hence their active participation to help safeguard the environment.

The project, currently being implemented in the two T/As, is expected to equip about 6 000 farming families on environmental conservation by 2018.

“So far, the response is overwhelming and through communities’ active participation, Fisd has facilitated the establishment of tree nurseries in each of eight village heads in Lirangwe Extension Planning Area,” said Gomagoma.

Blantyre district forestry officer Peter Mkwapatira commended Fisd for introducing Ina-cosh in the areas, saying the move will fully restore the environment which had been depleted.

Blessings Susuwele, Blantyre assistant district agricultural development officer, said it remains the responsibility of everyone to take care of the environment to curb soil erosion and flooding to increase food production. n