Malawians grapple with climate instability

A story by Daniel Nyirenda in the Daily Times (Malawi): [Climate change] is a global problem, though requiring particular solutions for particular areas that have been affected. However, a research by Natural Resources and Environment Centre (Narec) of Chancellor College of the University of Malawi, Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA) of University of Dar es Salaam and Natural Resources Institute of University of Greenwich in the UK, has resolved to take on this bull by its horns.

These researchers organised a national consultative workshop on climate change and climate variability in Lilongwe on July 2-3 to seek solutions to the phenomenon of climate change. Crop and animal diversification is the catch phrase that the forum suggested as a way of combating the phenomenon. Various speakers, most of them experts in various fields related to agriculture, propounded that farmers need to plant drought resistant and fast maturing varieties of crops.

...The mood at this forum was that time has come to embrace what is known as dietary diversification, saying this complements crop diversification. “People should now start appreciating that they can take bananas and meat and call it a day,” said Boniface Chikabadwa, an expert from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

… However, an expert warned on the much-touted gospel on crop and animal diversification. “We must not over diversify. There is too much talk about crop diversification, but we should diversify with quantities that we will be able to produce. If we over diversify, we will end up producing very little quantities of food,” warned Dr Austin Kumwenda, director of Tea Research Foundation.

That was not all, however. Apart from crop and animal diversification, the gathering came up with soil and water conservation as another way of adapting to climate change.

... However, over and above this, the forum observed that awareness on climate change and climate variability, is another key strategy that can help in mitigating the impact of this global phenomenon. “Farmers need to know facts about the climate change and climate variability. They need to know this so that they are able to know what action they need to mitigate its impact,” said Ngongondo…..

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