By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy
Accept
Nthanda Times
Ad imageAd image
  • Home
  • National
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Education
  • Local News
    • Parliament
    • Mining
    • Business and Finance
    • Elections
    • Technology
    • Governance
    • Human Rights
  • Environment
  • Sports
    • Airtel Top 8
    • Tnm Super League
Nthanda TimesNthanda Times
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • National
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Education
  • Local News
  • Environment
  • Sports
Search
  • Home
  • National
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Education
  • Local News
    • Parliament
    • Mining
    • Business and Finance
    • Elections
    • Technology
    • Governance
    • Human Rights
  • Environment
  • Sports
    • Airtel Top 8
    • Tnm Super League
Follow US
© 2025 Nthanda Times. All Rights Reserved.
- Advertisement -
Nthanda Times | National | ESAFF, NASFAM launch project to increase rural farmers’ participation in climate advocacy
National

ESAFF, NASFAM launch project to increase rural farmers’ participation in climate advocacy

Watipaso Mzungu
Watipaso Mzungu
Published March 26, 2025
Share
4 Min Read

Amid increasing threats of another food crisis in Malawi following a drought that has yet again hit the country, the National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM) has announced the launch of the Adaptation Policies and Accountable Climate Funding Project.

Recommended Stories

IMG 6236 NASFAM
NASFAM donates maize flour to people affected by Cyclone Freddy
Govt says climate change, resource limits for slow agricultural diversification
Communities hail Titukulane Resilience Food Security Activity for improving water access in Mangochi

NASFAM Head of Programmes and Communication, Rejoice Chikakuda, said the project, which will be implemented in partnership with Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF), seeks to increase participation and advocacy of rural smallholder farmers.

“Ultimately, this project seeks to address issues of climate change and food security challenges through capacity building, policy analysis as well as campaign and advocacy for systemic change. Among others, the will empower the farmers to influence policy issues related to agriculture, climate change, food and nutrition security,” she said.

Chikakuda disclosed that the project follows study findings, which indicated that the escalating impacts of climate change continue to threaten food security and nutrition across Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA).

She stated that smallholder farmers particularly women, who produce 70-80 percent of the food consumed in these regions, face increasing risks from droughts, floods, cyclones and pests & diseases.

“This situation is further worsened by inadequate government action on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030) and the ending CAADP Malabo Commitments on Agriculture coupled with insufficient climate adaptation funding for rural communities. By August 2023, an alarming 57.5 million people in SADC and 43.4 million people in the EAC were food insecure. This crisis is exacerbated by climate change, inadequate investment in rural agriculture and regional conflicts,” she explained.

Chikakuda disclosed that the project will run from 2025 to 2027, covering direct 10 ESAFF member countries and seven indirect member countries. The total project budget is EUR 600, 000 whereby EUR 540, 000 is funded by BfdW while EUR 60,000 as matching funds from ESAFF.

img 20250326 wa00515580771847842962456 NASFAM
Chikakuda (R) with farmers in Lilongwe

This project’s main objective is to increase participation and advocacy of rural smallholder farmers, (especially women) in climate-related policy dialogues at district, national governments and regional levels, on the allocation and disbursement of funds for climate change related programs and food and nutrition security for increased productivity though agro-ecology practices.

Lilongwe and its surrounding districts of Dowa, Mchinji, and Dedza have long been recognized as Malawi’s food basket, owing to their fertile land and significant contributions to the country’s agricultural output.

But, but as Mavuto Chikadza and Linda Jussa, who are NASFAM members from Lilongwe, explain, climate change is increasingly threatening this vital agricultural region.

Chikadza and Jussa said rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts are undermining the productivity of smallholder farmers, who rely on traditional farming methods that are vulnerable to changing weather patterns.

In addition to these environmental challenges, land degradation and deforestation have worsened, as farmers continue to cut down trees and sell their prime agricultural land to developers and investors.

“Therefore, this project has come at the right time and we expect to benefit a lot from it,” said Jussa when Chikakuda introduced the project to them on Tuesday last week.

Previous Article Cervical Cancer Audience NASFAM About 4,145 new cervical cancer cases diagnosed annually in Malawi
Next Article img 20250326 wa00521382568795686909152 NASFAM Speed Courier assures of professional handling, timely delivery of parcels, CSR activities

Popular Posts

graduate NASFAM

DOWNLOAD – 2025 Public university admission lists released

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, has today released the names…

By
Nthanda Times Reporter
1 Min Read
LL CITY Council visits sand mined areas in Lilongwe NASFAM
Environment activist urges MEPA to call for more awareness on dangers of illegal sand Mining

Environment activists have urged Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) to create more…

3 Min Read
Chakwera 3 NASFAM
DPP, NAP caution government on “insensitive” borrowing as debt hits MK15.1tn

The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and National Advocacy Platform (NAP) have…

4 Min Read
Nthanda Times
  • Quick Links
  • Live Scores
  • TNM Super League
  • Airtel Top 8
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Cookie Policy

© 2025 Nthanda Times. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

spinner
spinner
load more