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Conservation agriculture projects harvest rewards in Malawi
Maize growing in Mangochi, Malawi. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.
Alyne Mpunga proudly walks through her field of maize – maize that is taller than her. Before joining one of Concern’s conservation agriculture programmes in 2012, Alyne and her family struggled with hunger.
She tells us: "Before there were times we would go to sleep with empty stomachs."
Concern Worldwide provided Alyne with seeds, fertilizer and other tools alongside training and support.
"I have learnt a number of techniques such as how to make manure and post-harvest handling that have helped me increase my yields.
"I am growing three varieties of maize and cowpeas."
Alyne Mpunga stands in her field of maize in Malawi, the results of her work on Concern’s conservation agriculture project. Photo: Alexia Webster / Concern Worldwide.
The results speak for themselves.
“We are able to harvest more now,” she explains. “Before we would harvest two to three bags and now we harvest 10 to 15 bags from the very same plot of land.”
A larger harvest means that Alyne can feed her family and more.
"Now we have enough food. We have enough to feed the family and to give to other relations and we sell anything that is left over."
Helping farmers
Alyne Mpunga walks through her field of maize, the result of her work on Concern’s conservation agriculture project in Malawi. Photo: Alexia Webster / Concern Worldwide.
Concern implements a range of similar programmes in the Lilongwe, Nkhotakota and Nsanje districts of Malawi. Each programme is specifically targeted around the needs of individual farmers and can include:
- training in conservation agriculture
- small livestock pass-on schemes
- support for income-generating activities such as building fuel-efficient stoves
- village savings and loans clubs
- agroforestry
- small business/cooperative development
These programmes helped 84,000 people in 16,154 households in 2014.
Support and advocacy
This programme is funded by Irish Aid with support from Accenture.
We partner with the Civil Society Agriculture Network to improve the reach of advocacy efforts at both the district and national level.
We also work in partnership with the International Potato Center to promote the consumption of micronutrient rich crops such as the orange-fleshed sweet potato.
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