During an activity at Dawa village on Friday, following a tour of the Nkaladzi catchment area, Edward Katunga, Director of Agricultural Services at the Blantyre District Council, emphasized the council's commitment to environmental improvement. He noted that the efforts focus on landscape restoration and livelihood enhancement within the Shire River Basin.

“Our aim is to enhance the environment, thereby helping small-holder farmers improve their yields and secure better futures for their families,” Katunga said.

Highlighting the severity of soil erosion, Katunga reported that nearly 21 metric tonnes of soil are lost annually per hectare in the area. He stated that by integrating sustainable conservation practices, the initiative aims to build a resilient environment capable of withstanding climate change and improving community livelihoods.

MWASIP is supported by a Credit and Grant from the International Development Association (IDA). Its interventions include integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes, cover cropping, terracing on slopes to reduce soil erosion and runoff, and crop rotation to improve soil fertility and reduce pest and disease cycles.

Bonface Kautale, a member of the Technical Team in the Department of Agricultural Extension Services within the Ministry of Agriculture, noted that the initiative will help communities overcome climate change challenges. "Our goal is to increase the adoption of sustainable landscape management practices and improve watershed services in the targeted areas to enhance natural resource protection and management," he explained.

Senior Chief Kunthembwe expressed hope that the interventions will help the community cope with climate change impacts and improve living standards. “We anticipate this project will bring advanced, sustainable returns, restoring and protecting our resilience against environmental challenges,” he said.

The theme of the initiative is 'Integrated Catchment Conservation for Enhanced Climate Resilience and Improved Livelihoods.'