Farmers living along Kasungu National Park have hailed the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) for improving their livelihoods through a Climate Resilient Project that has promoted food security and reduced dependence on the protected area.
The project, which started in June 2022 and is phasing out this December, targeted communities bordering the park in areas under Traditional Authorities (T/A) Mangwazu, Kaphaizi, Mawawa and Senior Chief Lukwa.
Through the initiative, farmers were trained in climate-smart agriculture and beekeeping, including exposure visits to Zambia, to enhance self-reliance.
Speaking on Monday at Kaphaizi during activities to mark the phasing out of the project, beneficiaries said the initiative has helped them diversify income sources and adopt sustainable farming practices.
Mercy Nyirongo, a farmer from T/A Mangwazu, said the introduction of climate-smart crops and beehives has significantly improved her household’s welfare, saying the profits she made from the produce helped her family overcome hunger and meet basic needs.
“I have managed to buy chickens that I sometimes sell to raise money for household needs and school requirements for my children,” Nyirongo said.
However, she noted that limited access to markets remains a challenge, affecting profits from agricultural produce and honey.
Lead farmer Collings Banda also hailed the project’s impact, saying the practices learned under the initiative have helped preserve soil fertility while tree planting has provided multiple benefits.
“Apart from improving soil nutrients, the trees we plant provide shade and firewood for our homes,” Banda said, adding that the initiative has reduced encroachment into the national park in search of forest resources.
Senior Chief Kaphaizi commended IFAW for what he described as a transformative project in his area, assuring the organisation of continued local support, even after the project’s completion.
“It is the implementer who is pulling out, but for us, the project remains in the area,” the chief said, pledging to work closely with lead farmers to sustain the gains.
National Parks and Wildlife Division Manager for central region, Leonard Moyo said the initiative has helped communities find sustainable ways to support their families while protecting the park.
The two-year project was being funded by German International Cooperation (GIZ) through IFAW.