Food Security through Irrigation Farming in Malawi

The project provided farmers’ packs to 12 farmers from Matabwa Irrigation Scheme in Chikwawa District. The farmer’s packs comprised of 2kgs early maturing improved maize seeds, 1kgs bean seeds, 10g onion seeds, 10g rape leafy vegetables seeds, 10g mustard leafy vegetables seeds, 10g tomato seeds, 1 litre liquid fertilizer and 200mls pesticides.

The farmer’s packs came at the right time when many farmers in the Southern and Eastern regions of Malawi lost their crops due to Cyclone Freddy. This donation brought great sense of relief as they can replant their crops and in a few months’ time, they will be food secure and will have an income. The farmers will be supported and monitored through the extension services available through the Department of Agriculture to ensure they employ modern methods of farming for maximum benefit.

The farmers were able to make an income of K184,000 ($170) on average as well as having food for their families lasting four months. This gave them the opportunity to be food secure in the most difficult months before the rain-fed farming season. Being food secure means that they can concentrate on their rain-fed farming instead of going out to get casual labor on other people’s farms to be able to feed their families. The income catered to their other household needs like education materials for their children, clothing and other basic needs.