Vice Secretary for Tiyanjane Community Based Facilitators Lovemore Guta and Group Village Kanyongolo told Zodiak that the government needs to fast track construction of the road which is going to be called Sidik Mia Highway.

Guta said through the Promoting Sustainable Partnerships for Empowered Resilience, (PROSPER) project funded by UK AID, more positive strides have been registered.

He said farming activities have increased in the area due a rise in bee keeping, livestock and crop production, catchment management and conservation through construction of check dams on rivers and tree natural regeneration, among others.

“We grow a lot of crops here including maize, bananas and sesame. We also rear a lot of animals. We are currently constructing a building that will be used for poultry farming but poor road network is our major challenge to access markets,” said Guta.

Guta's sentiments were echoed by Group Village Kanyongolo saying the road’s pathetic state is hindering market opportunities for farmers and various traders in the area calling on the government to do the needful.

On catchment management and conservation, Chapananga forestry officer Peter Mcheka and agriculture extension officer Lameck Paulo said people have been making check dams on Chilimambeta river that originates from Majete Game Reserve, planting trees and tree natural regeneration.

They said it is encouraging that PROSPER interventions have assisted significantly in building the resilience of families, strengthening shock sensitive social protection, expanding smart agriculture, and reducing exposure to hazards and risks in Chikwawa and other districts namely Mangochi, Balaka and Phalombe districts.

In addition, the initiative promoted crop production, using solar power irrigation systems for all year-round production of selected crops by farmer field schools, livestock production including poultry and goats’ enterprises aimed at improving income security through proceeds from livestock sales as well as soil fertility improvement through application of khola manure.

The PROSPER project which was funded by UKAID started in December 2018 and is closing in July 2024.