Young people in Mzimba District have planted about 240 000 trees under the K5 billion Youth Forest Restoration Programme in the ending rainy season, the district forestry office has announced.
Last year, government embarked on the initiative to create employment for about 10 000 young Malawians.
Speaking during a media tour in Mzimba on Wednesday, district forest officer Lifred Banda said the programme has made the district greener and empowered the youth economically.
He said: “Under the tree-planting component, Mzimba District targeted to work with 23 young men and women to plant about 240 000 trees on 200 hectares. This has been done.
“In terms of natural forest regeneration, which includes pruning, weeding and construction of firebreaks, we are working with 25 youth clubs to cover about 1567 hectares of forests. So far, 75 percent of this has been completed.
Banda urged the beneficiaries to invest their earnings in profitable businesses.
In Traditional Authority Mzukuzuku’s area, Vibangalala Youth Club chairperson Madalo Jere asked government to extend the programme.
“The club planted 12 000 trees on about 10 hectares and we earned K 460 000 which we will share and invest in agribusiness,” he said.
The district was allocated K22 million for natural forest regeneration and K9 million for tree-planting. n
