‘More effort needed on climate change’
The Chancellor College based Natural Resources and Environmental Centre (Narec) has urged various stakeholders to step up climate change adaptability efforts by encouraging farmers to practice modern farming methods.
The stakeholders include agriculture officers, extension workers,
input suppliers, academics, statisticians and environmentalists.
Speaking during the opening of a two-day Climate Change Adaptation workshop in Blantyre last week, project team leader for climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector, Cosmo Ngongondo, said the government depends on the knowledge and experience of the stakeholders to promote good farming practices.
“This workshop will help to strengthen your experience, more
especially during this period when the climate is changing. Therefore, it is your responsibilities to ensure that the farmers choose the best variety of seeds and suitable time for planting,” Ngongondo said.
He said both indigenous and scientific knowledge should work together noting that farmers can do the weather forecast using traditional methods and beliefs.
“The impacts of climate change are especially more pronounced in development countries, like Malawi, where most the people largely depend on rain fed subsistence agriculture. The majority of these people also live in rural areas under widespread poverty,” he said.
Programme Manager for Shire Valley Agriculture Development Division, Jerem Nkhoma, said the workshop has brought coordination and collaboration among stakeholders.
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