Conservation agriculture is being promoted in Kasungu, central Malawi to address the impacts of climate change but it is being hindered by some local practices.

An article by the Malawi News Agency outlines how traditional leaders are calling for a change in by laws in the villages to ensure progress with conservation agriculture. For example, conservation agriculture requires maize stalks to be laid in fields, but when this is done, others come and remove the stalks, either to feed livestock or they burn them while hunting for mice.

Through the World Agroforestry Centre’s Agroforestry Food Security Program (AFSP), farmers in Kasungu are being encouraged to adopt conservation agriculture along with the planting of trees. The project is targeting over 3,000 farmers to improve livelihoods through sustained crop productivity. It includes the project includes the planting of fertilizer and fruit trees

Bruce Sosola, Training Officer with the World Agroforestry Centre has encouraged traditional leaders to establish bylaws that will ensure those who want to adopt conservation agriculture can benefit from it.

Read the full story: Traditional Leaders in Ku for Bylaws On Conservation Agriculture