Sustainable Agriculture Solutions for Food Security in Malawi

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a project to promote low-cost sustainable land and water management practices in Malawi, where rising input costs and land degradation are affecting food security among smallholder farmers. To address this issue, FAO is promoting the use of homemade organic fertilizers like Mbeya, which is made from locally available raw materials and a small amount of inorganic fertilizer. Smallholder farmers, such as Maganizo Lukhere, are already seeing positive results from adopting these sustainable practices.

Key Takeaways:

• The FAO's Land Use Planning and Sustainable Land and Water Management for Improved Agricultural Productivity project aims to increase agricultural productivity and improve food security in Malawi.
• The project focuses on promoting low-cost sustainable land and water management practices, such as the production of organo-mineral fertilizers like Mbeya.
• Mbeya fertilizer is made from locally available raw materials, including maize bran, pig dung, inorganic fertilizers, ash, and water, and can produce five 50kg bags from one 50kg bag of mineral fertilizer.
• Smallholder farmers in Malawi, such as Maganizo Lukhere, have seen significant increases in crop yields and family food security after adopting Mbeya fertilizer and other low-cost sustainable agricultural practices.
• These practices, which include mulching, zero tillage, and water harvesting, preserve soil moisture, reduce soil erosion, and improve soil composition.
• Harvey Nyirongo, Agriculture Extension Officer for Chasato section in Mzimba, notes that many smallholder farmers are resource-poor and consider the cost of technology before adoption, highlighting the importance of low-cost solutions like Mbeya fertilizer.

Statistics:

• One 50kg bag of Mbeya fertilizer is made from 21kg of maize bran, 10kg of pig dung, 10kg of inorganic fertilizers, 10kg of ash, and 5 litres of water.
• Maganizo Lukhere's family used to harvest 10-13 50kg bags of maize per acre, but with the use of Mbeya fertilizer and other low-cost techniques, they now harvest 40 50kg bags of maize per acre.
• The FAO's project aims to increase agricultural productivity and improve food security in Malawi, with a focus on promoting low-cost sustainable land and water management practices.

Sources:

• M2 PRESSWIRE: "Low cost-high impact, affordable farming solutions for sustainable food security" (August 19, 2025)
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): "Regional Office for Africa"