Nkhotakota is one of the district along lakeshore with the estimated population of 303,659 according to 2008 population and Housing Census. Of this, 150833 are males while 152826 are females. 80% of population in the district depend on natural resources for their survival. The district has natural resources such as bees which are underutilized. WESM has identified over 10,000 people who are interested in bee keeping. Though initiative is made by WESM to provide some beehives to communities, the supply is not enough considering the number of households. WESM encourages communities to utilize natural resources in order to maximize the benefit from it. Beekeeping can empower communities economically through honey sells. It also helps to contribute to body nutrition hence having health people who can contribute effectively to the development of this country.
Environmentally, bee keeping can also help to conserve forest. Experience has shown that where there are beehives people don't go and cut down trees hence there will be less deforestation around the forest reserve which in a long run will significantly mitigate the impact of climate change.
Again, the rural communities along the lakeshore have noticed significantly decline in indigenous fish species for the past years resulting from poor farming practices, destruction of fish breeding grounds, massive use of illegal fishing gears and non-compliance with fisheries regulations. Fish in Malawi provides the most affordable and rich dietary animal protein to a greater population whose income levels are very low. Evidently, fish can be found in almost every market in Malawi in both rural and urban areas presented and sold in a variety of forms. Major and large sized fish species such as the Chambo (Oreochromis species) and other offshore cichlids that are usually harvested by artisanal fishers with relatively less efficient fish gears and boats have significantly declined. Therefore, this proposal has been developed to improve the livelihoods, well-being, and health of the communities in the district.
Eminent issues identified by the communities include:
Destruction and poor utilisation of natural resources such as trees, fish and others thus leading to loss of certain indigenous fish species like great lake salmon (mpasa), Ntchira, Chisawasawa and Chambo.