Mkanda Food Security Malawi
Training farmers and providing them with maize and fertilisers on credit so they can grow enough food.
Goal
Increasing the yield of maize through training and providing fertiliser and seeds on credit. The farmers donate a part of their harvest so they can provide a meal for the children at the school.
Partner
The charity Foundation “Het Goede Doel” was founded in 2000. A nursery and primary school have been built, including accommodation for teachers. Calabash water tanks have also been constructed.
Local partner
Saulos Jali & Veronica Kuchikonde
Location
Thondwe / Mkanda in the Zomba region in the south of Malawi.
Updates
November 2024: Update Malawi HGD
Drought, solar pumps and young goats
The past year has unfortunately seen a poor harvest due to the climate. Only 56% was harvested compared to best season in 2020/2021. The farmers harvested an average of 680 kg of corn per ½ hectare. A healthy adult needs 150 kg of corn per year. After flooding in 2023, too little rain fell after sowing so the young plants dried up. S4F provided funds to buy new seed.
To make farmers less dependent on rain, four mobile water pumps have been purchased that run on a solar panel. The farmers can gain experience with irrigation from a stream. The pumps were supplied by Jacana from Zambia (see project). Jacana also has experience in constructing wells.
In October 2023, goats were introduced. By August 2024, there were 188 goats. Of the original 150 goats and 53 young, 12 goats died, 5 goats had 2 young. The young goats will be supplied to the farmers who have not had goats by 2023.
The quality of compost will improve because of the goat manure. As a result, less expensive fertilizer will be needed in the future to still get a good crop. S4F provides a little less money each year to supplement the credit system for seeds and fertilizer.
February 2024: Goat Pass-on Project “Het Goede Doel” Malawi
The Goat pass-on project started in October 2023 after a long preparation. The project is funded by: Wilde Ganzen (1/3), S4F (1/4), The Charity Foundation and other donors. (S4F also filled the gap in the budget of the ongoing credit system for fertilizer and seeds in 2023).
The goat project is important to make agriculture more sustainable and less dependent on fertilizer, which is becoming increasingly expensive. The goat manure contributes to healthy soil. The goat manure is used in the Mbeya compost system, which still contains 15% fertilizer in addition to corn bran and ash for minerals. The expectation is that this will help maintain the corn yield. The goats provide milk, which fits into a healthier diet for the population. In the longer term, goats can be sold which contributes to financial income.
150 young goats have been delivered to 75 farmers after they completed the training and had a corral ready. Both young goats and bucks were delivered. Unfortunately, due to the stress of transportation, four goats died shortly after arrival.
The other 75 farmers participating in the project are entitled to the first 150 young goats. Because of the young age, it will last some time before young goats will be born. There is good contact with agricultural advisors who supervise goat farming.
May 2023: Report of visit farmers of project “Het Goede Doel” Malawi
During my first trip to Malawi (March 2023) I visited the village of Lambulira, 65 km from Blantyre, south of the road to Zomba. The last 5 km the road is unpaved and difficult to drive on. There is no electricity in Lambulira and drinking water comes from the village pump.
We were welcomed with speeches by the agricultural committee and chiefs from the area. There were 50 listeners present under a large mango tree. The talk was delivered in Chichewa, translation was done by Takondwa Philippo, the agricultural specialist of “Het Goede Doel”.
We walked with the singing group along the fields of 10 participants of the agricultural project. The average size of the corn fields is 0.4 ha. The corn crop was generally in good shape, as shown on the photo of Florida Limbe and her husband. She is chairman of the agriculture committee.
Maize is the most important food in Malawi. Every day people eat Nsima, a hearty corn porridge. Next to the maize was their field of tobacco, which is Malawi's main export product. The farmers also grow various other crops such as: bananas, avocado, sweet potato, pumpkin, eggplant and various types of beans.
In recent years, a credit system has been set up by Foundation “Het Goede Doel” to purchase fertilizer and seeds. This should become self-sufficient, but the price of fertilizer has increased by a factor of three in recent years. Participants of the agricultural project are extra concerned about the future because of the death of Veronica Kuchikonde. Veronica was one of the founders of “Het Goede Doel”.
A new 'Goat pass-on project' is being launched to make manure available as an alternative to fertilizer. The goal is for 150 farmers to have 2 goats each available on the condition that they undergo training and build a corral. The manure from the goats will be used in the Mbeya compost system, which still contains 15% fertilizer in addition to corn bran and ash for minerals. The expectation is that this will help maintain the corn yield.
March is the last month of the rainy season, followed by six months of dry time. A few days after my visit, cyclone Freddy hit Mozambique and southern Malawi. Days of continuous rain caused flooding and damage to homes and roads; 1,500 people died in Malawi. Malawians desperately need their resilience. My trip to Malawi made me realize once again how important it is to visit a project. You only realize how big the differences are between Malawi and the Netherlands once you have been there.
Roelf Weges
September 2022: Results project Malawi
The goal of the project is that the availability of food, especially for children, will increase. Maize yields have increased significantly since the project began in 2019. Prior to the project, the yield was 26,000 kg. The yield has increased by a factor of 3 to 7. The number of farmers, who buy seeds and fertilizer on credit, increased from 50 to 150. Unfortunately, in 2022 the yield per farmer's wife was lower due to extreme weather conditions.
A comparison trial of corn varieties, which differ in resistance to corn stem borer, was conducted. There was a factor of three difference in yield between varieties, with local varieties giving the lowest yields.
A demonstration garden was established with tomatoes, onions and leafy vegetables to supplement the corn meal at the kindergarten.
The problem is that fertilizer is becoming increasingly expensive and the currency rate is falling. The goal is for the project to eventually cost no money by repaying the loans. However, more and more money is needed to buy fertilizer (due to sharply rising market prices).
A solution is being sought in targeted fertilization after soil analysis and using more organic manure.
December 2019: Start project in Malawi with the charity foundation ‘Het Goede Doel’
S4F was approached by the charity Foundation 'Het Goede Doel' (HGD) to contribute to an agricultural project in Malawi. Malawi is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world.
HGD concentrates on the region near the villages of Thondwe and Mkanda in the south of the country.
Since 2000, HGD has successfully completed several projects, including the construction of schools with associated facilities. In 2018 and 2019, local masons were taught how to build water tanks to have healthy drinking water available during dry periods. The HGD Foundation works together with two local employees Saulos Jali and Veronica Kuchikonde.
The goal of the 2-3 years agricultural project is to teach 100 farmers how to increase maize yield. With S4F's donation, Lewis Gama will be hired as the project leader to teach the farmers the “Foundations for Farming” method and the farmers will receive a loan to pay for maize seeds and fertiliser.