From empty nets to green fields
The rise of irrigation farming in Cape Maclear along Lake Malawi is transforming the lives of troubled fishers, writes our contributor MAUREEN KAWERAMA.
In the scenic setting of Cape Maclear in Mangochi District, a sweet revolution is silently making the lives of local fishers better.
The villagers that traditionally rely on the falling catches from Lake Malawi are increasingly turning to irrigation farming to improve their livelihoods and income.
The fishers find the produce from their fertile irrigated crop fields more predictable than delving into the lake where catches are dwindling due to overfishing and environmental degradation.
Behind the shift are persistent efforts by Sustainable Cape Maclear, a community-based organisation (CBO) established in 2016.
Frank Leward, 57, of Katukumala Village in Chembe area, epitomises the silent transformation.
For 20 years, he has been casting his nets into the country’s largest lake, hoping for a good catch. However, he remained stuck in poverty.
The fisher rues bad days when the lake yielded nothing but disappointment.
“In 2018, the CBO convinced me to venture into irrigation farming,” Leward recounts. “Since then, my life has completely changed. I now provide for my family and pay school fees for my three children in secondary school.”
Similarly, Stanley Josamu, 60, from Group village head Madothi, credits Sustainable Cape Maclear for his newfound prosperity.
The organisation introduced him to irrigation farming in 2018 and he is now reaping the benefits.
“After harvesting, I make a profit of about K500 000,” Josamu says. “With this money, I’ve bought a motorcycle and 15 goats. I also pay school fees for my children.”
He says Sustainable Cape Maclear provided modern farming techniques, manure, fruit trees as well as maize, rice and vegetable seed.
“They taught us how to process the manure ourselves, which has been invaluable as the cost of chemical fertiliser keeps rising.”
Mwayiwawo Ndondani, a waste collector for Sustainable Cape Maclear, unpacked the benefits of irrigation farming powered by manure derived from waste that once soiled the cape, a picture-ready tourist destination at the southern tip of Lake Malawi.
As her crop yields rise, her livelihood is improving.
“I have gained financial independence,” she says. “I can now provide for my basic needs without solely relying on my husband as I did before.”
Sustainable Cape Maclear team leader John Banana Matewere says the organisation began working with the lakeside farmers in 2017.
The CBO started with 15 farmers, the initiative now supports 25.
“We train them in irrigation farming and how to process it themselves,” Matewere explains. “We’ve also created markets for their produce by connecting them with owners of lakeside resorts in this tourist area.”
Every month, Sustainable Cape Maclear holds a monthly market day every Saturday where farmers display their products for potential buyers.
The monthly market day has become a crucial economic driver for the community.
Dr Yasuko Kusakari, a long-term researcher from the Integrated Natural Resources Management Systems in Lake Malawi National Park (IntNRMS) Project, commends Sustainable Cape Maclear for supporting local farmers.
Kusakari believes the Saturday markets will significantly boost the local economy and neighbouring communities.
Established in 2016, Sustainable Cape Maclear aims to enhance the quality of life and well-being of the Cape Maclear community.
By promoting sustainable socio-economic and environmental practices and harnessing local knowledge and resources, the organisation has fostered diverse partnerships, paving the way for a more prosperous future.
For fishers like Leward and Josamu, and farmers like Ndondani, irrigation has not only provided a stable income but has also brought hope and resilience to their community.
As they continue to encourage others to adopt this practice, Cape Maclear stands as a testament to the power of sustainable development and community empowerment.
