INTRODUCTION
Karonga RDP seeks to improve food security and diversify household incomes for close to 7,500 rural families in Northern Malawi.
The rural development project was started in 2010 following a six months pilot undertaken the preceeding year. Work is being carried out in collaboration with local development partners KRAAD and FOCUS.
LOCATION
Karonga and Chitipa, where work is taking place, are districts in the Northern Region of Malawi close to the far north western shores of Lake Malawi.
ECONOMY
The region is one of the least developed areas Malawi, with farmers having poor access to services, inputs and agricultural support. More than 80% of the economy is generated around agricultural production.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
The overall aim of the programme is to improve the household food security and access to income amongst 7,409 households in Karonga and Chitipa Districts by end of the project.
The scheme is also seeking to improve smallholder farmers’ access to agricultural extension services through a farmer to farmer extension approach.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
To increase and diversify food production and availability in 7,409 households and increase the opportunities for these households to diversify their production, and their sources of income.
Work is also underway to support 2,250 smallholder farmers to have better access to agricultural extension services, to increase awareness on HIV/AIDS, gender and help communities to build the capacity to cope with impacts of the virus.
The project is seeking to strengthen the capacity of local governance structures, partner institutions and beneficiaries (male and female) for them to engage, plan and manage development in their own area. |
