People in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kuntaja in Blantyre have ventured into poultry farming, courtesy of grants under Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (Mwasip).
The grant, released in 2021, came years after the community members struggled to generate income for their basic needs.
However, after participating in Mwasip activities such as land and forestry restoration initiatives, the communities formed cooperatives and applied for grants to run businesses.
One such cooperative is Titukulane Women’s Group in Mbega Village.
In an interview on Sunday, the group’s treasurer Doris Ayatu said the 16-female member group obtained a grant of K42 million and they invested it in poultry farming.
She said: “When we started implementing Mwasip sustainable land management activities such as construction of swales, managing forests and reclaiming the gullies, we needed capital to run our own businesses.
“Fortunately, a year down the line, we were asked to submit a business proposal to Mwasip and that’s when we obtained the grant which enabled us to start raising chickens.” Ayatu said through poultry farming, they are able to raise eggs for sale.
“We also get manure which we apply in our farms. Today, the poultry business is thriving as the group has raised about 600 chickens. Every month we realise about K1 million after selling eggs,” she said.
Another community member Jimmy Gome from group village head Katchakwala said the manure from the chickens have improved their farm produce.
He said other than supporting people to generate income, the economic activities will dissuade people from depending on charcoal.
Mlanga Sub-Catchment extension worker Lavuloni Kenneth said people are pleased that they received grants from Mwasip.
“Some people are running businesses while others are into beekeeping and irrigation farming to improve food security,” he said
