In the misty hills of Thyolo, tea bushes stretch as far as the eye can see.
These lush fields tell a story of survival, resilience, and, now, hope.
Hope shows in the form of 80 000 tiny tea seedlings set to change the lives of over 1 000 smallholder farmers, thanks to Solidaridad.
For years, farmers like Eliza Phiri, a widow with three children, have laboured in these fields, but always losing the battle against low yields and poor-quality tea plants.
Her story mirrors that of many smallholder farmers.
The tea plants passed from generation to generation have grown old and tired. The yields have shrunk and so has the income that sustains her family.
“We’ve been growing the same tea for decades,” says Phiri, wiping the sweat from her brow. “ The old plants give us little tea, and the prices are never good.”
But this season, things are different.
Solidaridad promotes sustainability and empowering local farmers.
Phiri and her kind now have a fresh start with the high-yielding tea seedlings distributed to smallholder farmers across Chizunga and Msuwazi growers’ associations and Mtendere Cooperative.
For Phiri, this means new life for her fields and new hope for her family.
“I never thought I’d have new plants,” she says with a smile. “These seedlings are a blessing. They’ll grow into strong tea bushes, and I can finally dream of a better future for my children.”
But it’s not just the seedlings.
Solidaridad has also equipped the farmers with fertilizer, hoes, shovels, wheelbarrows and watering cans, the inputs they could not afford.
Farmers in the fertile farmlands of Thyolo often lack the resources to make the most of it.
“Seedlings cost money,” says James Ngalande, a 62, from Chizunga, as he spreads fertiliser around the new plants with care. “We never had enough to buy good ones, so we just kept using the same old bushes. But Solidaridad has given us these new plants, and now we can really farm.”
The experienced farmer remembers a time when buyers could flock to Thyolo for its quality tea.
“Tea buyers today want better quality,” he says. “The market has become tough. Without good plants, you can’t compete.”
But Solidaridad’s initiative also teaches the farmers how to manage their nurseries and improve their farming practices. Its trainers work closely with the growers, teaching them modern farming practices and how to manage tea nurseries.
“For years, we farmed the way our parents taught us,” says Chimwemwe Banda, a youthful farmer who joined the Msuwazi Tea Growers Association last year.
But things have changed.
“Solidaridad has taught us how to use modern techniques to grow our tea better. We’re learning how to manage the nurseries and make sure our plants grow strong. It’s exciting!” says Banda.
Like many youthful farmers, he believes that with the right training and resources, the future of tea farming in Thyolo looks promising again.
“Before, we were just planting and hoping for the best. Now, we have the knowledge to make sure our tea grows well. It’s a big change for us.”
At the heart of this transformation, women like Phiri are stepping into leadership roles as the Solidaridad’s initiative promotes on gender inclusivity, giving men and women access to the tools, seedlings, and training necessary.
“Women do most of the work in the fields,” says Solidaridad head of gender and youth Precious Greehy. “But they often don’t have access to the resources they need to succeed. We’re changing that.
For Phiri and other women, the opportunity to grow new tea is not just about feeding their families.
“It is about empowerment,” she says. “I can do this for myself now. I’m not waiting for someone to help me. I’m building something for my children’s future.”
The impact of Solidaridad’s programme stretches beyond individual farmers. The entire community of Thyolo is feeling the benefits. With access to construction materials, farmers can now build nurseries and small storage facilities, reducing post-harvest losses and keeping their tea safe until it’s ready for market.
“Solidaridad has really uplifted us,” says Given Phiri, the organisation’s Country Manager for Malawi. “We’re not just giving farmers seedlings—we’re giving them the tools and training to build a sustainable future.”
For the farmers of Thyolo, this season marks the beginning of a new chapter. The seedlings being planted today will grow into robust tea bushes in the years to come, offering farmers the chance to reclaim their place in Malawi’s tea industry. And for many, like Eliza, these small plants are more than just tea—they’re hope.
“I look at these seedlings, and I see my future,” she says, her hands deep in the soil. “They’ll grow, and so will we.”
