By Solister Mogha
Zomba District Council on Friday approved implementation of Ecosystems-based Adaptation for resilient Watershed and Communities in Malawi (Ebam) Project to run up to 2030.
The project will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through improved watershed management, enhancing resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems to climate change.
Speaking after endorsing the project during District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting, Director of Planning and Development, Precious Kantsitsi said apart from addressing major environmental and social-economic challenges, Ebam will contribute to transformative agricultural sector, thereby improving agricultural production and livelihood of people in the district.
“Zomba is one of the districts that experience with climate change and this has in some points forced farmers to adopt some unsustainable land use practices that in the end contribute to land degradation.
“Through Ebam project, we expect to find a solution to address environmental and social economic challenges while encouraging communities to adopt to new and sustainable agricultural practices,” Kantsitsi added.
The Director said the project will also increase farmers’ access to markets and financial opportunities through innovation in financing for smallholder farmers’ component.
Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Chief Technical Advisor, Benedict Vickers, said Ebam project will target three macro catchments in the three Extension Planning Areas namely; Chingale, Masaula and Thondwe.
He added that key components of the project are; integrated landscape management, resilient livelihoods and food systems, and enabling institutional and financial environment.
The Ebam project, which is being funded by the Green Climate Fund will be implemented in 11 districts among them; Chitipa, Nkhata bay, Dedza, Mwanza and Zomba.
