Malawi Farmers Laud Nansen Project Support for Better Livelihoods
Project Field Officer Chifundo Thawiha said Nansen was providing key support to nearly 1,000 Mchinji farmers amid shocks from the Ukraine war and climate change.
MCHINJI, Malawi - Smallholder farmers in Mchinji district are praising the Nansen Project for significantly boosting their household food security, living standards and incomes through irrigation support, writes Martin Kamlaike.
A media tour this week of Chiwale and Lunthwe Irrigation Schemes in Mkanda and Kalulu Extension Planning Areas revealed the positive impacts of the project.
William Lester, a beneficiary, said he made a K520,000 profit last season from his 0.5 hectare (1.2 acres) after getting seeds and training from the project's extension officers on treating farming as a business.
"I took 60% as we were taught to re-invest into the same farming," the joyful Lester said, adding he used profits to buy a bicycle and fertilizer.
Efereti Chapasuka from Chiwale said her family's status has improved greatly.
"We were very poor people, but we are happy now because we have bumper yields and we expect to harvest again for the second time."
She said the project inputs and training enabled a shift to harvesting three times annually using irrigation instead of just once, boosting food security.
At Lunthwe, Agnes Kaponda said the project brought irrigation farming to their village, allowing them to grow vegetables and relishes they previously bought.
"Our aspiration is that every member has an iron-roofed house which will signal improved living standards," she said.
Project Field Officer Chifundo Thawiha said Nansen was providing key support to nearly 1,000 Mchinji farmers amid shocks from the Ukraine war and climate change.
The Nansen project aims to address interlinked food insecurity, poverty and climate challenges worsened by the Ukraine conflict.
It's implemented by Total Land Care with backing from Norwegian and Danish organizations.