The tree farmers have been busy preparing their land and digging holes, ready to plant out their seedlings when the rains come. One farmer is Mwandofia Banda. He has successfully raised 3,400 seedlings, and said, “I have six children, and these trees will support my family in the future.”
Mwandofia explained that the land he will be using to plant the seedlings out on was previously used for farming, and although it is no longer good for farming crops, it is good land for planting trees. He will continue growing soya and sweet potatoes on other farming land that he owns.
He is also protecting an area of trees next to his home as they need firewood for cooking. They hope one day to have one of our fuel-efficient cookstoves so that they only have to coppice branches for firewood.
