Study circle coaching in Kasungu-farmers and journalists
KASUNGU-(MaraviPost)-Effects of Climate change including unreliable rainfall patterns, floods, dry spell, emerging of new diseases remain a punch to both and rural and urban settings.
In this regard, multiple interventions to contain the phenomenon is paramount for common man in the village.
This is the reason Malawi Lake Basin Program (MLBP), a consortium of three member including Famers Union of Malawi (FUM), National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM), Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives (MUSCCO) and two Swedish organizations; We Effect and Vi Agroforestry propels “Study Circle” in Malawi’s some districts.
Study circle gives people an opportunity to identify a problem while working on its solutions for better in all aspects of life; health, education food and economic empowerment.
Since inception of Lake Basin program in 2014 in Malawi’s districts including Kasungu, Salima, Mangochi and Ntcheu, there has been outstanding results basing on study circle.
Among noted ones financial inclusion, increased productivity, farmer organization viable businesses, women empowerment, self-employed youths, smallholder farmers voices in policy and sustainable natural resources management.
This has reduced poverty and improved nutritional status in rural areas.
This week’s media tour organized by the consortium that engaged Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) in Malawi to four districts Kasungu, Salima, Mangochi and Ntcheu proved beyond poverty reduction among the rural farmers.
The study circle is being put into clusters and spread further to clubs based on the need to be worked on.
Clear study circle’ impact including formulation of village banking, Early Childhood Development (ECD), farmers and youth clubs.
“Since study circle was instilled on us, we have been able initiating various interventions to our social problems. Currently, were able to realize maximum benefits from village banking that by end of this year will have our own SACCO.
“Our agricultural production has improved that we are able to venture into various farming; crop and animal husbandry. This has an able to be economically independent; meeting family basic needs; able to send children to school”, testifies Tephinus Mvula Organiser for Kasungu’s Chinkhobwe cluster study circle.
Dorothy Phri for Mlesi Cluster in Salima chipped in; “Through the village banks, I have managed to venture into pig farming that after selling four out of ten, am able to support my form two female child at Matanje Secondary school”.
Jeffry Engilesi, Mangochi’s Chilonga cluster chairperson lauded for benefits being realized from community based forest since 2014.
“The village forest has helped our women not to travel long distance to fetch firewood. Even rainfall patterns have improved in this area than before. Currently, we are able to plant over 1,200 trees from 700 due to study circle skills we get from our extension workers,” says Engilesi.
Ganizani Gabriel, Malawi Lake Basin Program’s Financial Services Coordinator says the program is promoting increased agricultural productivity and crop diversification for climate change through study circle coaching.
Gabriel assured the nation of the program’s sustainability despite its phasing out this year.
