Blantyre District Council has launched a catchment conservation project under the World Bank-funded Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (Mwasip) to address land degradation that threatens agricultural productivity.

Speaking on Wednesday in Traditional Authority Kunthembwe, Blantyre district director of agriculture, environment and natural resources Linda Phande said the project is expected to scale up landscape restoration which will improve water levels in the Shire River.

She said: “Mwasip is a follow-up project for the Shire River Basin Management and it focuses on sustainability management of water and land resource.

Stone bands to control run-off

“We target Kunthembwe area because it is in Kapichira catchment that surrounds the Shire River which is the main source of hydro power generation in Malawi.”

Phande said the project has earmarked a number of interventions such as tree planting, tree regeneration, soil and water conservation as well as manure making to improve agricultural productivity.

Senior Chief Kunthembwe commended the council for implementing the project in his area.

He said he will encourage his subjects to support the project to protect the Shire River and improve soil fertility.

Blantyre District Council chairperson Akima Chipwatali asked for collaboration to address catchment related challenges, including excess run-off water

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