NGO for adoption of indigenous farming

Hope Ministries International (Homi) says farmers in Malawi should start using indigenous farming methods to cushion them from negative effects of climate change.

Speaking during a field day at the pilot farm in Malingunde in Traditional Authority (T/A) Masumbankhunda in Lilongwe recently, Homi board member Pike Ng’oma said their aim is to help more farmers tackle the impact of climate change using indigenous methods.

He said apart from Lilongwe, they are also implementing two other pilot phases at Zalewa in Neno with financial support from Overseas Economic Development Initiative (OEDI).

N’goma said their project is hinging on encouraging the absorption of organic system as opposed to chemical or inorganic methods of farming.

“We are encouraging the use of organic systems such as organic wastes like weeds which provide nutrients. The whole idea is to help the farmer benefit on how they can engage in indigenous farming. We think this will help to rescue them from the issues of hunger as they also develop economically,” he said.

Ng’oma said under the project, there are 12 lead farmers at both Malingunde and Zalewa sites, each having 10 follower farmers.

On his part, group village Mwabwera thanked Homi for the initiative which he said has been helpful in boosting the livelihood of many farmers.

One of the lead farmers Esinta Maluwa testified that the lives of most farmers have changed in the area since the implementation of the project.

The field day was held under the theme: ‘enhancing indigenous agriculture technologies and crop association to reduce the impacts of climate change.’