Malawi youth organisation empowers farmers to fight climate change
Youth organization implements local climate hub project to empower farmers in Malawi to address climate change challenges and find local solutions.
LILONGWE, MALAWI — Youth for Environment and Sustainable Development (YSD), a youth organisation in Malawi, is taking significant strides in addressing climate change and environmental protection through its innovative project called the Local Climate Hub, writes Happy Valirani.
This one-year initiative, funded by Germany-based cooperation BINGO, aims to raise awareness about climate change and equip local farmers with the knowledge and tools to combat its challenges using locally available resources.
Implemented in several rural communities across Malawi, including Dowa, Mchinji, and Lilongwe, the Local Climate Hub encourages local farmers to come together within their hubs to discuss the climate-related obstacles they face and brainstorm sustainable solutions.
The project tackles key issues such as deforestation caused by excessive reliance on fuelwood by promoting the production of energy briquettes and bee farming as alternative income sources.
Additionally, farmers are learning and implementing practises like composting animal dung for organic manure and venturing into irrigation farming to enhance crop production.
Jekapu Dishani, the programmes manager for YSD, explained the project's goal, stating, "The aim of this project is to empower rural communities affected by climate change to come together, discuss the challenges they are facing, and find local solutions to implement using locally available resources."
The Local Climate Hub project aims to reduce dependence on external institutions for solving local climate challenges by fostering local capacity and resource utilization.
Dishani expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project, as communities have established local hubs and are actively implementing climate change interventions.
Tulana John, a beneficiary from Makanda irrigation scheme in Mchinji, shared her experience.
Through the project, she and fellow youth were trained in sustainable farming methods, such as using biogas for cooking and manure production, leading to increased crop yield, improved food security, and positive environmental impact.
Matoni Lusha, a beneficiary from Madzi village in Mchinji, praised the project's contributions to environmental conservation and improved crop production.
He emphasized the importance of crop rotation and resilient crops to adapt to changing weather conditions.
To ensure the sustainability of the Local Climate Hub, YSD is providing capacity-building support to communities, integrating local structures and leaders into the project, and seeking additional partners to co-finance interventions.
The organization aims to expand the project's reach to benefit more local farmers across various communities in Malawi.
The Local Climate Hub project represents a promising step towards empowering rural communities to combat climate change and protect their environment, ultimately fostering sustainable development and resilience for the future.