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Kasungu District – Climate Adaptation Information

Discover strategies and solutions tailored to different regions and sectors.

Overview & Priorities

Kasungu District, located in central Malawi, is highly vulnerable to droughts, dry spells, deforestation, soil degradation, and poor water management, all of which threaten agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods. With a high reliance on rain-fed farming, poor irrigation infrastructure, and extensive deforestation for charcoal production, the district faces mounting climate risks. Key priorities include sustainable agriculture, conservation of wetlands, improving water security, expanding alternative livelihoods, and strengthening disaster risk reduction measures.

Kasungu District
Figure 1. Miombo woodland, Kasungu NP, Malawi

Adaptation options

No regret 4

  • Enhancing Resilience through Winter Cropping
  • Substainable Agricultural Practices
  • Diversification of Livelihood Activities
  • Promotion of Small Livestock Production

Low regret 4

  • Conservation Farming
  • Education and Awareness
  • Enhancing Resilience through Winter Cropping in Wetlands
  • Improving Veterinary Health Services

Win-win 7

  • Disaster Risk Reduction
  • Community Empowerment
  • Policy and Institutions
  • Implementing Conservation Farming Practices
  • Training for Smallholders, Especially Women
  • Land Husbandry to Reduce Erosion
  • Livestock Entreprises as Part of Mixed Farming

Flexible 2

  • Economic Diversification
  • Improvements in Marketing Infrastructure and Water Supply

Sectoral risks & adaptation strategies

Select a sector to explore its climate risks and adaptation strategies.

Key Risks

  • Droughts and dry spells reducing crop yields
  • Poor irrigation infrastructure limiting agricultural productivity
  • Soil degradation and loss of fertility
  • Heavy reliance on tobacco farming over staple foods

Adaptation Strategies

  • Drought-resistant crops
    Promote climate-resilient varieties such as sorghum and cassava
  • Sustainable agriculture
    Implement conservation farming, intercropping, and crop diversification
  • Wetland conservation
    Protect wetlands for irrigation and food production during dry periods
  • Improved irrigation systems
    Develop water-harvesting techniques and small-scale irrigation
  • Soil conservation
    Promote agroforestry, mulching, and organic fertilizers

Key Risks

  • Drought reducing water availability for fish breeding
  • Siltation and habitat degradation from deforestation
  • Overfishing reducing fish stocks

Adaptation Strategies

  • Sustainable fish farming
    Expand aquaculture to reduce pressure on wild fisheries
  • Water resource management
    Restore degraded wetlands and river ecosystems
  • Fisheries regulation
    Implement seasonal fishing bans and gear restrictions
  • Alternative livelihoods
    Support fish farmers with market access and financial services

Key Risks

  • Extensive deforestation for charcoal production
  • Land degradation increasing erosion risks
  • Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services

Adaptation Strategies

  • Reforestation and afforestation
    Promote tree planting and sustainable forestry programs
  • Functional Landscape Approach (FLA)
    Implement ecosystem-based management to balance land use
  • Alternative energy sources
    Encourage LPG, solar cookstoves, and energy-efficient stoves
  • Soil and water conservation
    Develop erosion control measures such as vegetative buffers

Key Risks

  • Poor road and bridge conditions worsening during floods
  • Weak housing structures prone to extreme weather
  • Limited access to safe water infrastructure

Adaptation Strategies

  • Climate-proofed roads and bridges
    Improve infrastructure resilience to floods and extreme weather
  • Water security improvements
    Expand rainwater harvesting and improve borehole access
  • Disaster-resilient housing
    Promote the use of durable, flood-resistant building materials
  • Early warning systems
    Strengthen meteorological monitoring and mobile-based alerts

Key Risks

  • Food insecurity due to dependence on rain-fed agriculture
  • Increased poverty from failed harvests and lack of job opportunities
  • Poor access to health services during extreme weather events

Adaptation Strategies

  • Livelihood diversification
    Support alternative income-generating activities such as beekeeping and handicrafts
  • Social safety nets
    Expand insurance schemes and food security programs
  • Climate education programs
    Train communities on disaster preparedness and adaptation strategies
  • Health system strengthening
    Improve rural clinics and expand clean water access