Malawian Farmers Turn to Organic Manure Amid Soaring Fertilizer Costs
Inorganic fertilizer prices rise, Malawian farmers turn to organic alternatives , writes Gerald Viola.
CHIKWAWA, Malawi - Soaring inorganic fertilizer prices are pushing farmers in Southern Malawi's Shire Valley region to turn to organic alternatives for more bountiful harvests, writes Gerald Viola.
In villages around Ngabu like Mthobwa, Nyaikha, Khokhwa, Makande, Mwanamakoko, Chimpambana and Utumbe, smallholder farmers are now using cow dung manure supplied from Rashid Issa's cattle ranch.
They have been forced to go organic due to expensive chemical fertilizers on the market.
One farmer leading this innovative programme is Rashid Issa, the owner of a wholesale business in the district.
In 2022, businessman Issa embarked on an initiative to provide farmers in surrounding villages with cheaper organic fertilizer produced from his cattle ranch. Issa believes that organic manure can restore soil fertility without degradation while Malawi diversifies and adopts new farming techniques in the face of rising costs of inorganic inputs.
"The cow dung has nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium essential for crops and soil fertility," Issa told AfricaBrief.
"This intervention can combat hunger and improve food security in this region which has struggled for years."
Issa emphasised that his efforts align with the Malawi2063, which aims to create an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation.
The cow dung manure is currently sold at K2,200 per 50 kg bag.
One of the beneficiaries of the organic manure, Ganizani Kandiero from Nsangwe village, expressed his delight at the improvement in his farming since he started using the manure.
Kandiero revealed that in the past, he could produce 20 bags of maize using inorganic fertilizers, but after switching to organic manure, he achieved a harvest of 42 fifty kg bags.
In addition to maize, Kandiero successfully cultivated tomatoes using the manure, leading to economic benefits for his family.
Chrissy Tembo from Mthobwa village also praised the organic manure, noting a significant boost in her harvest during the previous growing season. Tembo vowed to continue using the manure based on her positive experience.
Taulayi Mlewah, the Programme Manager for the Shire Valley Agriculture Development Division (SVADD), assured farmers across the country that organic fertilizers from cattle dung are highly effective.
Mlewah emphasized that once farmers apply this manure, they need not worry about their crop growth, as cattle dung manure provides all the necessary nutrients for maize and other crops to thrive.
"I encourage farmers across the country to try organic fertilizers. They will not be disappointed. It is the only way our country can achieve higher production with low input costs," said Mlewah.
Despite the satisfaction of farmers with bumper yields, Rashid Issa expressed concerns about meeting the growing demand for organic manure.
The increasing number of farmers placing orders for the manure has posed a challenge, even though Issa maintains a substantial herd of cattle.
The local community surrounding A R Issa Wholesale is thrilled to have easy access to organic fertilizer within a short distance.
In addition to producing manure, Issa also breeds and sells cattle at his ranch in Ngabu, which has proven beneficial to cattle farmers since the closure of cattle dip tanks by the Malawi Government in the 1990s.
Experts say integrated methods using both inorganic and organic inputs offer optimum results for Malawian farmers amid soaring synthetic fertilizer costs.
For now, organic manure is proving a viable option for helping smallholders sustain food production.
This is a good development for the farmers.