Nasfam for diversified agriculture practices

National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (Nasfam) has embarked on a pass-on livestock programme to diversify agriculture practices in Kasungu.

The initiative provides goats to a group of farmers and after breeding, the kids are passed-on to the next group of beneficiaries.

In an interview after the pass-on ceremony in Traditional Authority Mphomwa in the district, Nasfam manager Blame Mkwala said they introduced the programme to enable farmers mitigate the effects of climate change on crop production.

He said: “We have been working with farmers on crop production over the past years. We have been compelled to bring in this programme for purposes of overcoming consequences of poor harvest following insufficient and erratic rainfall caused by climate change.

“We believe that in such case farmers may sell their livestock and be able to get their needs.”

Mkwala said they opted to provide goats in the programme because they are easier to keep.

“Goats easily reproduce and one can easily feed them. They are also resistant to most diseases; hence, we found them as appropriate livestock to give to farmers,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Christopher Mwale from Chiwono Farmers Club in Sumba Village, commended Nasfam for the programme.

“The programme will improve our agriculture practices. We will use the manure from the goats to apply to our maize fields,” he said.

The programme started last year in August with 75 farmers receiving a goat each in Chulu area in the district.