Village Head Kalichero of Traditional Authority (T/A) Dzoole in Dowa District has led his subjects to economic independence, courtesy of National Association of Smallholder Farmers in Malawi (Nasfam)-supported Innovation and Productivity Centres (IPC) initiative.
Since 2022, people in Kalichero Village have been involved in crop production, livestock farming and beekeeping and they invest the proceeds into village savings and loans groups.
wife ride their motorcycle
In an interview on Tuesday, village head Kalichero said before forming a farmers club through Mponela Association, which is under a Nasfam IPC in the area, farmers were harvesting little due to the use of recycled seeds and poor agricultural practices.
He said: “We did not have any idea that using recycled seeds reduces harvests and above that, we were just growing crops without any expert guidance and we thought that was normal until we heard about Nasfam.
“When we formed a club and joined Nasfam, we started accessing seeds through a seed bank programme where farmers borrow quality seed and pay back the same seed at an interest.”
Kalichero said through Nasfam membership, the farmers are now making more profits through aggregate marketing.
Ntchisi IPC coordinator Henderson Chikanaulanga said they help to identify off-takers for the farmers.
“When they sell individually, they do not make profits, but we encourage them to bring their produce together and we find markets for them,” he said.
Anesi Chikonzi, secretary for Tithandizane Village Savings and Loans group, which comprises Kalichero Club members, said families have also benefited through loans to start businesses.
Mponela Association field officer Kufika Adriano said under the same club, the youth have ventured into beekeeping to generate income
