Farmer Exchange Visits: Learning from Each Other to Protect the Environment

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Farmers from five COMACO cooperatives in Katete had an idea – to plan a farmer exchange visit with farmers from Mwasemphangwe Chiefdom within Lundazi District to learn how to better protect the environment.

Farmers from Mwasemphangwe and Katete sharing ideas

The Katete-based farmers pooled their resources, and on Thursday the 20th of September, the farmer exchange visit finally took place when farmers from Katete visited farmers in Mwasemphangwe Chiefdom.

The aim of the farmer exchange visit was to allow the farmers from these two districts, which are 3.5 hours apart, an opportunity to exchange knowledge on how to reduce deforestation, charcoal production, and poaching. 

Route between Katete and Mwasemphangwe Chiefdom in Lundazi District

It was noticed that as you move along Great East Road near Katate, the sale of charcoal is rampant compared to the road toward Lundazi. Further, it is evident that the the vegetation along the Lundazi Road is much denser and healthier. This disparity is perhaps not a coincidence: COMACO has been working with over 3,000 famers in Mwasemphangwe for nearly 15 years, whereas, COMACO has only been working in Katete for 3 years.

Charcoal for sale along Great East Road in Katete

Based on the observations, farmers from Katete wanted to learn best practices from their farmer friends in Lundazi so they can implement these environmental protection strategies in and around Katete. The farmers from the two areas spent time in conversation, exchanging ideas and tactics to support their environment.

[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][blockquote style=”left_border” font_size=”24px” color=”#9e9e9e” source=”Mr. Sam Munkombwe, COMACO Regional Coordinator”] “The farmer exchange visit will profoundly benefit the Katete farmers and their chiefs”[/blockquote]

The COMACO farmers were welcomed to the palace in Mwasemphangwe and were accompanied by several high-ranking individuals  from the area, including:

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• Headman Chipuka from Mbangombe Village
• Representative for Chief Chilupako from Kathumba Village
• Representative for Chief Ngwangwa from Kawaza Village and
• Representative for Chief Mwasemphangwe – Mr. Banda Gabriel[/list_style][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1454241148818{padding-top: 10px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1″]

Farmers visiting the Palace in Mwasemphangwe Chiefdom

During the farmer exchange visit, the farmers from Mwasemphangwe showed the farmers from Katete their thriving Community Conservation Area. The visit went on well the farmers from Katate learned many things. Mostly, the farmers from the two areas talked about being persistent in order to end the trend of charcoal making. Additionally, they discussed ways to engage more with the traditional leaders, as the traditional leaders can come up with laws on how to punish those found cutting trees for charcoal.

Farmers visiting the Community Conservation Area in Mwasemphangwe Chiefdom

COMACO intends to help more cooperatives organize additional farmer exchange visits, based on the success of this first visit.  

[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][blockquote style=”left_border” font_size=”24px” color=”#9e9e9e” source=”Mr. Sam Munkombwe, COMACO Regional Coordinator”] “Katete used to face a lot of deforestation and land degradation. But through the coming of COMACO and working together with stakeholders like the Ministry of Agriculture, the Forestry Department, and the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, the individual farmers and their communities have learned about the importance of conservation, and how necessary their role is to achieve a green environment that will provide sustainable development to their chiefdoms.”[/blockquote]