Phalombe youth strategizes on 2020 MYFRP

By Sam Majamanda -Mana.

Youth in Phalombe Friday strategized on the implementation of this year’s Malawi Youth Forest Restoration Programme (MYFRP) activities.

The Youth together with Officers from the Forestry and Youth departments have planned to engage 380 young people from 19 youth clubs in planting and caring for trees that will cover 1,491 hectares of land in hills and along critical river banks in the district.

Phalombe District Forestry Officer, Moses Mtambo said this year government decided to engage fewer youth for the programme to achieve notable socio-economic impacts among the youth.

“Last year, most of the youth raised concerns that the money they received for the work was not enough, with which, to do anything notable,” he said. 

Mtambo added that, “So, this year, the programme has been designed in a way that participating youth should receive money that can support them in starting small scale businesses so that there is continuous economic benefit,”

In this year’s activities of the double impact programme, the youth are expected to care for trees planted during last year’s season, but to plant new trees, as well as facilitating natural regeneration in various hills in the district.

Chairperson for Phalombe Active Youth Club, Moses Kathumba said last year’s exercise was a success in his area as 8,400 trees that were planted, 5,300 still standing, representing a 63 per cent survival rate.

District Youth Officer for Phalombe, Ian Sukali said the district anticipates the programme to register more successes than last year due to the increase in the finances that the youth are expected to receive after the work.

In Phalombe, activities of the MYFRP are expected to commence by next week Wednesday February 5, 2020.

Mana/sm/adn/tha