By Ushely Joseph
EIGHTY-NINE agricultural extension officers from all 15 districts of Eastern Province have been trained by the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Program (EP-JSLP).
In his remarks during a capacity building workshop of the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Program (EP-JSLP) in Katete district, Eastern Province Provincial Agricultural Coordinator, Victor Zulu, emphasized the strategic role of extension staff in translating climate information into practical action at farm level, and also strengthens climate-smart agricultural advisory services for farmers.
“You are the critical link between climate information and the farmer. This training is meant to equip you with practical skills so that climate information and planning tools reach farmers in a form they can use. When extension staff are well prepared, farmers are empowered to plan ahead, budget wisely and manage climate risks more effectively,” Mr Zulu said.
Eastern Province Senior Irrigation Engineer, Bernard Chungu noted that the strength of the e-PICSA platform lies in its ability to replace guesswork with evidence-based planning.
“Climate information is most valuable when it informs planning. e-PICSA enables farmers and planners to make better decisions by drawing from reliable historical data and forecasts,” Mr Chungu said.
Dolase Sakala, a farmer of M’bangombe village of Katete, said improved access to climate information would enhance budgeting, preparedness and climate-smart farming practices. Another farmer, Christopher Phiri, welcomed the initiative, noting that planning ahead allows farmers to allocate resources more efficiently, reduce losses and adapt more effectively to changing climate conditions.
Meanwhile, Headwoman Chimunda Evelyn Banda of Mphangwe area, Mwanampangwe Agricultural Camp in Katete District, thanked the government through the EP-JSLP project for empowering communities with planning and budgeting skills.
The traditional leader also urged extension officers to continue visiting farming communities to ensure that the knowledge gained is fully put into practice.
The training focused on equipping extension staff with the skills required to deliver Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (e-PICSA), a digital platform designed to support farmers with localized climate information, forward planning and informed decision-making. The trained officers are expected to cascade the knowledge to farming communities in their respective districts and camps, enhancing farmers’ ability to respond to climate variability, particularly erratic rainfall patterns that continue to affect agricultural productivity and household food security. The workshop represents a critical investment in extension capacity, laying the foundation for more resilient, informed and forward-looking farming communities across Eastern Province.
The training forms part of a broader EP-JSLP drive to scale up digital climate advisory services across Eastern Province. Under the programme, Government has secured US$1 million to strengthen climate resilience through digital tools, building on PICSA experiences already implemented in selected districts. EP-JSLP marks a significant step in strengthening climate-smart agricultural advisory services for farmers across Eastern Province.
The programme is implemented by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment with support from World Bank. The initiative responds to the growing challenge of climate variability, particularly erratic rainfall patterns that continue to undermine agricultural planning, productivity and household food security.
The e-PICSA platform, grounded in the PICSA methodology, integrates historical climate data, seasonal forecasts and participatory planning tools. These enable farmers to plan ahead, budget more effectively and align farming decisions such as crop choice and planting time with expected climatic conditions throughout the agricultural season. -NAIS