By Burnett Munthali

 Farmers in Rumphi District have been urged to embrace soil and water conservation measures as part of efforts to protect agricultural production amid forecasts of below-normal rainfall during the 2026/27 growing season.

Rumphi District Commissioner Thomas Chigwenembe has called on communities to actively participate in Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSEPWP) initiatives aimed at improving resilience against climate-related challenges.

Chigwenembe made the remarks after visiting several catchment areas where the programme is being implemented across the district.

He said interventions such as the construction of swales, contour marker ridges and planting of vetiver grass are critical in reducing soil erosion, controlling water runoff and improving moisture retention in farming fields.

The District Commissioner said these conservation practices would help farmers maintain crop productivity even when rainfall levels are lower than expected.

“Weather experts have already predicted that we are going to have less rains in the coming growing season. We would like farmers in the district to embrace these interventions in order for them to mitigate this challenge,” Chigwenembe said.

He emphasised that climate-smart agriculture has become increasingly important as farmers continue to experience changing weather patterns, unpredictable rainfall and environmental degradation.

The district administration believes that protecting soil and water resources will play a key role in safeguarding food production and improving household resilience.

Meanwhile, CSEPWP Desk Officer for Rumphi, Amon Chikoza, said more than 11,593 participants have been enrolled for the third phase of the 2025/26 programme.

Chikoza said this phase is the final stage of the initiative, which started in 2022 with the aim of strengthening climate resilience among vulnerable communities.

He explained that the programme is targeting 16 catchment areas covering approximately 5,000 hectares of land within Rumphi District.

Through the initiative, communities are being supported to implement conservation activities that restore degraded land and improve agricultural sustainability.

The programme, which is expected to conclude later this year, has been funded through the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) and the World Bank.

Authorities say continued adoption of climate-smart farming methods will remain essential as Malawi faces increasing pressure from climate change, including droughts, floods and unpredictable weather patterns.

The Rumphi initiative highlights the growing importance of community-led environmental conservation as a pathway towards sustainable agriculture and long-term food security.