Development

Goat farming transforms food security in Kasungu

 In Kasungu District, life has long been a struggle for farmers. Poor soil fertility, high fertiliser costs, and unpredictable harvests have made farming a challenging endeavour.

However, an innovative solution involving goats and fortified compost manure is beginning to transform livelihoods and protect the environment.

Chirwa and his wife inspect their goats

Group Village Head Chisasa, aged 67, has witnessed this transformation firsthand. “I received five goats from Kawiccoda [Kasungu Wildlife Conservation for Community Development Association], and they have changed everything,” he said.

“They provide protein for my family. I can sell them to cover school fees or emergencies. With fortified compost manure, one bag of synthetic fertiliser now produces five bags of compost, which is cheaper and more effective!”

Fortified compost, locally-known as Mbeya fertiliser, is made using easily accessible materials: goat droppings, ash, maize bran, and a small amount of synthetic fertiliser. Farmers mix these ingredients in equal portions with 10 kilograms of fertiliser to create a nutrient-rich compost that revitalises their fields.

James Mwale, another farmer, described the impact the compost has had on his farming.

“Last year, I could only afford three bags of fertiliser, which wasn’t enough for my land. With compost, I can now cultivate my entire field,” he said with pride. “It’s an immense relief. I started with five goats, and now I have nine!”

For families like James’s, Mbeya fertiliser is about more than saving money. It offers control over their farms, their income, and their futures. The compost has become a lifeline, shielding farmers from soaring fertiliser prices driven by supply chain disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic and further worsened by the Russia-Ukraine war.

Since 2019, fertiliser prices have increased nearly fourfold, from an average of K22 000 per 50-kilogramme bag in 2020 to between K112 000 and K117 000 in January 2025. For most farmers in Kasungu, these prices are prohibitively high, making alternatives like fortified compost essential.

Darkson Chirwa and his wife, Millicent Zimba, from Group Village Chakwira, shared their story.

“We used to borrow goat dung from friends,” Millicent said. “Before, we needed six bags of fertiliser each season—three Urea and three NPK. Now, with our own goats, we only need one bag. We’re saving money and working less.”

Darkson added: “Financial stress once strained our marriage. But now, with goats, what’s there to argue about?”

This transformation is part of the Community Resilience Project, implemented by Kawiccoda and funded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) through its Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (Biopama) Medium Grants Facility.

Farmers from Traditional Authorities Kaphaizi and Chinsinga were selected using Ministry of Agriculture guidelines to participate in a goat pass-on programme.

Each of the 57 participating farmers—40 percent of whom are women—will provide five goats to other farmers to ensure the programme’s sustainability.

The project’s goal is clear: to enhance food and income security while conserving Kasungu National Park’s biodiversity and surrounding natural resources.

Recent studies, including the Malawi Multidimensional Poverty Index conducted by the National Statistical Office with support from the United Nations Development Programme, have shown that communities near Kasungu National Park suffer from insufficient access to animal protein and face higher malnutrition rates.

Poverty has historically driven people to cut trees, poach wildlife, and encroach on protected land.

By equipping families with goats and teaching climate-smart farming techniques, the project is reducing their dependence on the park and helping to safeguard its ecosystem.

Ackim Nqumayo, aged 54, and his wife Mestina, 45, live close to the park.

Mestina explained: “We used to need six bags of fertiliser. Now, with fortified compost, we are saving money and growing more crops. It’s such a relief, especially because we often deal with wild animals damaging our fields.”

Nqumayo, who lost his sight due to illness, expressed his gratitude. “This project has given us hope. We are able to keep going despite the challenges.”

The impact of the project is visible across Kasungu. Families are spending less on fertiliser, improving their crop yields, and enjoying newfound financial stability. What started as a simple initiative with goats and compost has grown into a community-wide transformation.

Kawiccoda board chairperson Malidadi Langa believes this project shows how people and nature can thrive side by side.

“By reducing poverty and teaching farmers climate-smart agriculture techniques like fortified composting, we are helping to protect Kasungu National Park and its surrounding natural resources. Poaching and deforestation are slowing down because families now have better and safer ways to make a living,” he said.

Group Village Head Chisasa summed it up: “We are feeding our families, sending our children to school, and taking care of the land.”

Since the project began in 2023, the fields are greener, families are stronger, and the future looks brighter—one goat, one harvest, and one school fee at a time. With communities empowered economically, there is less incentive for illegal activities in the park, a development that promises to complement conservation efforts for years to come.

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