By Burnett Munthali
Farmers in Mulanje District are reporting major increases in maize harvests as a land and water restoration programme transforms degraded farmland and helps communities recover from years of soil erosion and declining productivity.
Project coordinator Ken Suwali said the M’bwezera Chilengedwe initiative has helped communities adopt soil and water conservation practices that are reducing land degradation while improving agricultural productivity.
Suwali said farmers who previously struggled to produce enough food on degraded land are now witnessing the return of healthier soils and improved harvests.
According to Suwali, communities are protecting natural tree regeneration, planting trees and constructing various soil and water conservation structures in fields and unused areas.
He said the measures include dams, swales and water-control barriers designed to reduce soil erosion and improve water retention.
He said the restoration work is also contributing to the recovery of forests and other degraded areas.
Suwali said some farmers have increased maize production from as little as one bag per half-acre to more than six bags following the adoption of the conservation measures.
He said 13,601 hectares have so far been restored out of a targeted 21,000 hectares that the programme planned to rehabilitate from 2023.
Suwali attributed the shortfall partly to the impact of Cyclone Freddy and Cyclone Idai, which damaged some areas that had already undergone restoration work.
He said despite those setbacks,the programme continues to make progress in restoring land and strengthening the ability of communities to produce food.
Suwali said the benefits are also extending beyond farming, with participating communities gaining access to village savings and lending groups that are helping households build financial resilience and invest in small businesses.
One of the beneficiaries, Mathews Yuwa from Nakuzale Village under Traditional Authority (T/A) Tombondia, said the programme has provided him with an opportunity to join a savings and lending group.
Yuwa said the group has enabled him to save money, access capital and invest in income-generating activities.
He said the financial benefits have helped his household meet basic needs while also allowing him to build assets for the future.
“I save a little money through the group and can also access loans to invest in my business,” said Yuwa.
He said one of his investments is the purchase of three pigs for livestock farming.
Yuwa also reported a substantial improvement in his maize production, saying his harvest has increased from about 10 bags to 29 bags per acre.
