Farmers in Malawi urge youth, elderly to join agricultural clubs
The Nansen project aims to empower youth and elderly farmers to achieve food security and improve living standards in the three districts.
MCHINJI, Malawi— Young and elderly farmers in central Malawi are encouraging their peers to join farming clubs and cooperatives to combat poverty and boost household incomes, writes Martin Kamlaike.
The appeal came during a media tour organized by Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid to assess the impact of the one-year Nansen project in Mchinji, Dowa and Kasungu districts.
Beatrice Naferamo, 78, a grandmother of three orphaned children in Dowa, said she joined the Katengo irrigation scheme after facing severe hardships.
"My house did not have anything, and I used to stay because I am a human being," Naferamo said.
"I was consistently stressed with the responsibility to take care of my grandchildren whose parents died 10 years ago."
Through the project, Naferamo learned to farm as a business.
She now grows enough food for her family and can afford school supplies for her grandchildren.
Petro Paulo, 25, another member of the Katengo scheme, reported profits exceeding K200,000 from vegetable farming.
"My life has changed a lot," Paulo said.
"I am able to buy things that I could not manage to buy before I joined the club."
In Mchinji, Stefano Gabriel, 28, urged fellow youth not to dismiss farming.
"It's the only way to improve our living standards," he said.
The Nansen project aims to empower youth and elderly farmers to achieve food security and improve living standards in the three districts.