Communities in Traditional Authority Malemia in Zomba are reaping fruits from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded Transform project which has improved their livelihoods.

Molesi Phiri, who chairs the 22-member Nanyanga Goat Club in Mkaju Village, said through the pass-on programme, he is now producing manure for farming thereby improving his yields.

He added that the goat farming has also improved nutritional status of his family.

“Because of the milk from the goats my family is now heathier,” Phiri said.

Shilla Aliseni, one of the villagers who received a goat during a pass-on ceremony on Tuesday, said she will replicate the gains made by her peers by taking care of the goat.

“I expect to be getting bumper yields since I will be generating manure for my farming business. After passing the goat to the next line of beneficiaries, I would sale some in future in order to pay school fees for my children,” Aliseni said.

Zomba District Council Chief Agriculture Officer Misheck Chawala the 30 first line of beneficiaries in the area received 150 goats and are expected to pass on the goats to the next line of beneficiaries.

Chawala advised the second line beneficiaries to take care of the goats.

“My advice to the five second line beneficiaries is that they should provide the goats with good shelter, food and proper treatment whenever they exhibit signs and symptoms of illness,” Chawala said.

He further called on farmers to embrace livestock farming in order to transform their livelihoods.

“Livestock such as goats are like moving banks, they multiply as time goes thereby providing a sustainable source of money to the farmers,” Chawala said.