With over 1000 participants, Kakalo Catchment under Kaphuka Extension Planning Area (EPA) has impressed in land restoration under the Climate Smart Public Works Programme (CSPWP).
The communities are restoring over 2000 hector’s of land in the hilly area, uh nder Traditional Authority Kaphuka in Dedza District.
According to Kakalo Catchment CSPWP Desk Officer, Jabulani Madise, they are working on 18 hotspots, erecting durable structures to restore eroded soils in their fields.
He said In 2016 the area experienced flash floods that eroded most of the fertile soil and leave behind gullies which have caused problems years after.
“We have so far constructed storm drain, we have constructed dykes in 18 gullies as one way reclaiming them and also put in place check dams. We believe that these will have a huge impact on the environment that will benefit us,” he said.
Further, the communities are also into reforestation projects, both at community and household level, and they have also constructed swales to control soil erosion.
“We have noted a huge difference during this farming season, in the past, our crops were being washed away with running water, but we have never had such experiences this year, because of these interventions. We believe that our harvests will improve tremendously,” he said
However, Madise said despite all these interventions, they have had challenges such as lack of equipment and late disbursement of payments.
In an interview Dedza District Council Land Resource Officer, Franklin Gomani said despite the challenges, he was overwhelmed with the response from the communities.
On the equipment, Gomani said they are working with the committee and soon they will be purchased.
“We wait for the committee’s report on what kind of equipment they need and the quantity. They have just finished doing that, and the procurement process will be done very soon. The same with their payments, we are still within the required period of preparation and disbursement, so they will get it within the period,” he said.
Dedza District has 18,685 participants in 20 catchments.
The CS-EPWP is a programme under the social support for resilient livelihoods project (SSRLP). It is implemented by local councils with support from National local government finance committee (NLGFC).
The SSRLP is funded by the World Bank.
