By Bisola Adeyemo
Group of environmentalist across East African has organized a training program for Magu residents in Tanzania on how they can combat the impacts of climate change.
The National Training on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Catchment Management is part of a three-year (2019-2022) project aimed at enhancing climate change resilience of communities and their livelihoods system as well as ecosystems.
It is also aimed at bringing ecosystem and community-based adaptation technologies to offset the negative impacts of climate change, Daily News reports.
The program is funded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through Lake Victoria Basin with the sum of 520,000 US dollars.
The project is piloting climate smart actions to the local communities and grassroots to achieve broader objectives.
According to Dr. Masinde Bwire, Regional Manager, Adapting to Climate Change in Lake Victoria Basin (ACC-LVB ),the training will be partnered with countries like Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi with Madu residents in participation.
On effort to support irrigating farming, the National ACC-LVB Coordinator from the Vice President’s Office, Engineer Onespholy Kamukara said three water wells have been constructed and one rehabilitated to support irrigation farming.
According to him, high-valued crops, mostly horticulture and rice are encouraged for productive agriculture, adding that about 200 households around Lake Victoria are set to benefit from the project with women being prioritized.
“We have therefore a total of four water wells which are operated by the solar power. The target is to make sure that over 200 hecters of land here in Magu are for high-valued crops,” he said.
He noted that farmers will the educated on how to go for productive agriculture while also preserving the environment.
