Malawi: Farmers in Rumphi district have celebrated the first rains after what is being considered as a devastating dry spell. The agricultural sector of the district has been affected significantly due to the dry spell.
The officials have shared that in the beginning of the dry spell destroyed the initial plantations which caused significant crisis.This comes after a devastating dry spell and the authorities conducted spot checks on Wednesday.
These checks revealed that farmers are replanting their crops, taking advantage of the renewed rainfall after the district had experienced an unusual dry spell, with the sun beating down relentlessly for close to 18 days.
“We thought all was lost, but the rains have come back, and we are replanting,” said Amosi Njikho, a farmer at Buwila in the area of Traditional Authority Chikulamayembe.
“We are hopeful that our maize will survive this time around,” he added.
The rains brought a sense of relief to the farming community in the district administration. The officials have shared that they had been struggling to cope with the unpredictable weather patterns.
The administration said that the communities are grateful for the rains, and they are doing everything we can to make the most of it,” said Dagrous Gondwe, another farmer at Chozoli area.
Meteorological experts predict that the rains will continue, bringing much-needed relief to the district.
Agricultural experts are asking the farmers to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“We need to adapt the changing climate, and that means adopting new farming practices,” said Daniel Soko, an agricultural expert in the country.
“This includes using drought-tolerant crops, conserving water, and practicing agroforestry,” he added.
Farmers are heeding the advice, with many replanting their crops using drought-tolerant varieties.
“We have learned our lesson, and we are taking steps to adapt the changing climate,” said Melina Sichinga, a farmer at Chikwawa area.
Rumphi is a hub of agriculture as most residents of the district predominantly rely on farming for their livelihood.