HomeEnvironmentResearch key to addressing climate change effects, maximizing agricultural production, productivity –...

Research key to addressing climate change effects, maximizing agricultural production, productivity – Govt

PUBLISHED BY

The Malawi Government has disclosed that research is key to addressing the adverse effects of climate change and maximizing agricultural production and productivity.

Director of Land Resource Management in the Ministry of Agriculture, Gertrude Kambauwa, Kambauwa made the remarks on Tuesday when she opened a half-day National Research Dissemination Workshop in Lilongwe.

MwAPATA Institute organized the workshop in partnership with Africa Economic Research Consortium (AERC).

Kambauwa said Malawi, just like many other African countries, is facing disproportionately high effects of the impact of climate change than other parts of the world.

She lamented that Southern Africa is experiencing climate disasters and shocks that have affected agricultural production and productivity. 

“You will agree with me that in recent years until early this year, Malawi and other countries in the Southern part of Africa such as Mozambique have not been impacted by the weather-related shocks that are becoming more intense and more frequent because of climate change.  As a nation, Malawi has been hit by drought, late onset of rains, early stoppage of rains, pests and diseases like the fall armyworm and, of course, recently, the cyclones, among many others,” said Kambauwa.

Kambauwa (3rd from left) posing for a photo with delegates to the research dissemination workshop in Lilongwe

She added, “To the disadvantage of Africa, the continent and its people are ill-equipped to cope with climate change challenges. Climate change negatively affects agricultural production and productivity, hence negatively affecting income and food security. As a result, many people in Africa are at risk of poverty and food insecurity because of the impacts of climate change.”

However, Kambauwa pointed out that the Malawi Government is working tirelessly with its development partners to ensure that the country designs and implements programs that build resilient livelihoods to ensure sustained food security for the nations.

She said the Ministry of Agriculture is, among others, encouraging the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices as a way of addressing challenges faced in agriculture production.

“Farmers are highly encouraged through the different routes set by the Ministry of Agriculture to plant early maturing and drought resistant varieties of maize and other crops, use mulching for moisture retention, retain or incorporate crop residues into the soil instead of burning, in-situ rainwater harvesting, agroforestry as well as, crop rotation among other practices,” she said.

In his welcome remarks, MwAPATA Institute Executive Director, William Chadza, said the research findings disseminated at the workshop will help farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions going forward.

1 COMMENT

  1. As much as researches are being done, I think the approach plays a part as most of the researches use top-down approach in the end implementation is difficult. Implementation is as important as the research for better results.

Enter your comment

RELATED ARTICLES

265 Energy Limited achieves 50% gas use penetration in LL, ZA

Malawi’s leading supplier of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and its accessories – 265 Energy Limited – has disclosed that it has achieved a 50 percent mark in its campaign to mobilize residents of Lilongwe and Zomba to switch to cleaner cooking technologies.

CISONECC advancing district collaboration for sustainable natural resource management”

Civil Society Network of Climate Change (CISONECC), in collaboration with its partners, has successfully concluded a two-day District Training on Monitoring & Evaluation and Sustainable Natural Resources Management in Machinga district.

Paramount Chief M’mbelwa V faults forestry officers over deforestation in Mzimba

Paramount Chief M’mbelwa V has admonished forestry officials in Mzimba for failing to check deforestation and encroachment of forest reserves in the district.  

Dedza District Council Launches the 2022/23 Tree Planting Season

Dedza District Council on Saturday launched the 2022/23 tree planting season at Chipalukwa Primary School ground in the area of traditional authority Kasumbu with a pledge to plant one million and five hundred thousand trees.

Latest Posts

popular posts

Mchinji’s agriculture committee emphasises on collaboration

Mchinji District Agriculture Extension Coordination Committee (DAECC) has stressed the need for strong relationships and collaboration among stakeholders to sustain agriculture initiatives being implemented in the district.

Woman drags Nankhumwa to court over child maintenance issues

A little known woman, Letina Kamwamba, has dragged Leader of Opposition and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential aspirant, Kondwani Nankhumwa, to court over child maintenance issues.

2024 Aviator Strategy and Tips to Win (TESTED AND VERIFIED)

With the recent surge of users on Premierbet Malawi Aviator; we keep seeing many Facebook and Twitter posts about whether there’s a strategy of some sort for the Aviator game. We haven’t seen any definite answers to this which pushed us to answer this, using a program that compiles the results and gives you an idea of different strategies and numbers to try on Aviator.

MCP publicist Reverend Maurice Munthali resigns

Publicity Secretary for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Reverend Maurice Munthali has resigned from his position, citing the prevailing governance atmosphere marred by persistent corruption allegations and related scandals as reasons for his resignation.

MK17.28bn Mzuzu Civic Office Complex construction at 45%

Plem Construction Limited (PCL) has disclosed that progress of the construction of the first ever Mzuzu Civic Office Complex is at 45 percent.
Nthanda Times

Discover more from Nthanda Times

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading