ONE ACRE FUND BACKS DOWA’S REFORESTATION EFFORTS

One Acre Fund has pledged to support the Dowa District Council in reducing environmental degradation through large-scale tree planting initiatives.

Speaking during a District Executive Committee meeting in Dowa, Government Relations Officer Roberta Mbewe said the programme aims to restore degraded land, improve forest cover, boost agricultural productivity, and contribute to Malawi’s Vision 2063 goals.

Mbewe said the organisation plans to distribute more than 120 million tree seedlings to over 2 million farmers by 2030, targeting a 65 percent survival rate. In Dowa, One Acre Fund has already distributed over 1.6 million seedlings through 151 nurseries.

She added that in the programme’s second year, the organisation aims to cover 2,880 hectares and reach 80,000 farmers with 3.2 million seedlings across Bowe, Chisepo, Nambuma, and Madisi EPAs.

Despite challenges such as delayed supplies and limited local support, Mbewe said the project has recorded a high farmer adoption rate and created employment opportunities in communities.

Chief Agriculture Officer Japhet Zingani urged stakeholders to strengthen coordination with the council, saying effective implementation of the programme could significantly improve livelihoods and development in Dowa District.