Green Stories with Jonas Miselo

In a bid to combat the devastating effects of flooding during the rainy season, the Transforming Landscapes for Resiliency and Development Project (TRALARD) is currently undertaking an ambitious initiative in Kawambwa district. With a budget of 1.6 million dollars, the project involves the construction of three embankments and crossing points, aimed at mitigating the frequent isolation of certain areas within the district. Kawambwa Town Council Secretary Isaac Mwale commends the TRALARD project for its potential to significantly improve the well-being of the local population. "The construction of these embankments will help to reduce the risk of flooding and will also improve access to these areas during the rainy season," Mwale stated, highlighting the project's dual benefits. Known for its higher rainfall levels compared to other provinces, Luapula's Kawambwa district is particularly susceptible to flooding, leaving certain areas cut off from essential servi...

In a bid to boost agricultural productivity and enhance food security, the Zambian government has called upon farmers in Kawambwa District to diversify their crops and embrace rice farming. This move comes as part of a collaborative effort with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Market Oriented Rice Development Project (MOREDEP). Highlighting the potential of rice as a high-value crop, Steven Musonda, the Kawambwa District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO), emphasized that rice cultivation can offer farmers substantial returns on their investment. "As the Ministry of Agriculture, we have always spoken about diversification. We have trained farmers to diversify from mono-cropping of maize into other high-value crops like rice," he said. The DACO further stated that rice provides a higher profit margin compared to other crops. For instance, a farmer can make about K 10,000 profit per hectare as a gross profit, which should encourage farmers to ...

The construction and rehabilitation of irrigation canals and weirs in Nchelenge district by the Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development Project (TRALARD) will help farmers maintain their agricultural productivity despite the effects of climate change, the Ministry of Agriculture has said. Nchelenge District Agricultural Coordinator Arnold Muimui said the 6-million-kwacha project is welcome and will improve farmers’ livelihood in the district. “Climate change is a major threat to food security in Zambia, but irrigation can help farmers to adapt and continue producing food even during periods of drought,” Muimui said. Mr. Muimui further detailed the significance of the irrigation improvements for local farmers.  "The rains have become unpredictable lately because of climate change," he explained. "So, our farmers struggle to water their crops. Second, even when it doesn't rain, farmers still want to grow things like vegetables. But getting water is tough...

Wildlife Crime Prevention Zambia (WCP) joined forces with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Alternatives to Charcoal Project (A2C) to train fifteen journalists in investigative journalism. This six-day intensive workshop aimed to shed light on Zambia's charcoal trade and its far-reaching environmental impact. The training, led by seasoned investigative journalist Charles Mafa of the Makanday Centre for Investigative Journalism, kicked off at the Mika Convention Centre in Lusaka. Over the first three days, participants honed their skills in crafting in-depth, informative, and investigative reports. The final leg of the workshop shifted to Mumbwa, placing journalists face-to-face with the realities of the charcoal trade. Mwatita Lubinda, a participant from Lusaka-based Cloud 9 FM, described the training as a game-changer. " The Investigative Journalism training opened my mind to ways to do an investigative story, considering that I have never ...

  In a significant development for the farming community in Mwansabombwe district, Luapula province, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, through its Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Investment Programme (E-SLIP), has garnered heartfelt gratitude from local farmers for the transformative Livestock Pass-On Programme. According to testimonials from beneficiaries, this initiative is bringing about positive changes in their lives. Doris Mpundu, a farmer benefiting from the E-SLIP Pass-On programme, expressed her gratitude, highlighting that the project has successfully challenged cultural prejudices associated with cattle rearing in the Mwansabombwe community. Initiated in 2017, the E-SLIP programme has played a pivotal role in providing livestock stocking and restocking programs involving cattle, goats, and chickens to various community groups in the region. Luapula Province has historically grappled with low livestock populations, a challenge that initiatives like E-SLIP are ...