Malawi Farmers Overcome Food Insecurity with Sustainable Agricultural Techniques

Strategic Insights -

Small holder farmers in Malawi are benefiting from innovative agricultural techniques that address the challenges of food insecurity and poverty. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a project that promotes low-cost sustainable land and water management practices, including the production of organo-mineral fertilizers such as Mbeya. This homemade organic fertilizer is made from locally available raw materials and a small amount of inorganic fertilizer. Maganizo Lukhere, a farmer from Mzimba district, shares his remarkable story of how his family's livelihood has improved since adopting these sustainable agricultural techniques.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FAO's Land Use Planning and Sustainable Land and Water Management for Improved Agricultural Productivity project is addressing issues impeding production among small holder farmers in Malawi, such as the rising cost of agricultural inputs and land degradation.
  • The project is promoting the use of low-cost sustainable land and water management practices, including the production of Mbeya fertilizer, which is a homemade organic fertilizer made from locally available raw materials and a small amount of inorganic fertilizer.
  • Mbeya fertilizer is easy and cheaper to make, requiring 21 kg of maize bran, 10 kg of pig dung, 10 kg of inorganic fertilizers, 10 kg of ash, and 5 litres of water to produce one 50 kg bag.
  • One 50 kg bag of mineral fertilizer produces five 50 kg bags of Mbeya fertilizer.
  • Along with using Mbeya fertilizer, farmers are adopting other low-cost techniques promoted by FAO, such as mulching, zero tillage, planting vetiver grass around maize fields, and constructing swales for water harvesting.
  • These techniques preserve soil moisture, reduce soil erosion, and improve soil composition.
  • Harvey Nyirongo, Agriculture Extension Officer for Chasato section in Mzimba, notes that more farmers making and using Mbeya fertilizer is leading to increased food security in the community.
  • Maganizo Lukhere's family has seen a significant improvement in their livelihood since adopting these sustainable agricultural techniques, with their maize harvest increasing from 10-13 50 kg bags to 40 50 kg bags on the same piece of land.

Statistics:

  • 40 50 kg bags of maize per acre (increased harvest since adopting Mbeya fertilizer)
  • 5 bags of Mbeya fertilizer produced from 1 50 kg bag of mineral fertilizer
  • $X (estimated cost savings of making and using Mbeya fertilizer)
  • X% (estimated increase in food security among community members since adopting Mbeya fertilizer)

Sources:

  • FAO's Land Use Planning and Sustainable Land and Water Management for Improved Agricultural Productivity project
  • Maganizo Lukhere's personal story
  • Harvey Nyirongo, Agriculture Extension Officer for Chasato section in Mzimba
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa