21 Feb 2019

 Climate Exploration Hub recently engaged Tati Siding East Village Development Committee (VDC) in a two-day consultative workshop in an effort to sensitise committee members on issues of climate change and adaptation plan.

Director of Climate Exploration Hub, Mr Obakeng Sethamo, said in an interview on the sidelines of the workshop that the two pronged meeting was a capacity building exercise for VDC members .

“On the first day we intend to take members through a capacity building exercise and move on to finding possible climate change impacts and implement the adaptation plan as per the advice of committee members,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Sethamo explained that they chose to work with members of the VDC because of their obligation to facilitate developments at village level; something he said placed them in a better stead to pass on information attained to villagers. 

“Also, if they are well informed, they will be empowered enough to formulate other means of adaptation amidst impacts of climate change at village level,” he said.

He said communities were concerned about the change in rain patterns, which affected farmers most of whom practiced rainfed farming as opposed to irrigation.

It was on this background, he said that VDCs needed to rise to the occasion and become important conduits through which to transmit important information on climate change. 

Tati Siding East VDC chairperson, Mr Abdul Mbaiwa, appreciated the workshop, saying it could not have come at a better time. 

He said looking at the climate change and its impact on people, especially farmers, there was need for in-depth teaching on the subjects.

“It is very important that we are taken through the paces as community leaders on issues involving climate change so that we may in turn disseminate the right information and implement necessary adaptation plans to deal with this phenomenon,” he said. ENDS