One hundred Lead Farmers from over 20 village clusters under Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa have been trained in climate-smart agriculture to help them make informed, climate-sensitive farming decisions and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Jointly organized by Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Malawi and the Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC), the training, which focused on imparting knowledge about climate change impacts, effective agricultural adaptation methods, and risk reduction strategies, took place on October 17, 2024.
Speaking during the training, Kondwani Banda, a lecturer at DAPP Dowa Teacher’s Training College, highlighted the importance of considering environmental factors when making farming decisions in the face of climate change.
“Rainfall patterns, temperature and soil type of an area determine the type of crops that should be grown in a locality. Unfortunately, instead of these factors determining the crops we grow, farmers ignore all these and plant crops according to their preference. This affects the harvest and most times lead to low yields,” explained Banda.
Malawi’s past three rainfall seasons have been characterised by erratic weather, including heavy rainfall, extended dry spells, and low rainfall.
Seasonal forecasts from the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) have been crucial in guiding agricultural advisories. The department’s 2024/2025 climate outlook, released in September 2024, outlined rainfall patterns across the country.
Zione Chaononga, a Lead Farmer from Group Village Headman Nkungula in T/A Msakambewa lauded DAPP Malawi for organizing the training that equipped them with knowledge that will help them to benefit from farming in the wake of climate change.
“The training was very helpful as it elaborated on some practices that I am currently doing which was an assurance that I am on the right track. It also revealed some practices that I should refrain from such as applying fertilizer soon after seeds germinate. To farmers that utilize this knowledge they stand to benefit from their farming,” said Zione.
Chaononga also stressed the importance of more training sessions, noting that climate change is an ongoing challenge that requires continuous education.
As a Lead Farmer, she mentors nine follower farmers, helping them adopt climate-smart agricultural practices.
Principal for DAPP Dowa TTC, Mr Blessings Kambewa urged the farmers to utilize the knowledge gains stressing that they are allies of civil society and government in addressing climate change impacts.
Since November 2023, DAPP Malawi has been implementing the Enhancing Access and Participation in Climate Change Policy Development and Implementation project with support from the Commonwealth Foundation through CISONECC.
The project aims to empower local actors to take a leading role in the development, implementation, and monitoring of climate change policies in Malawi.
