Malawi Farmers Boost Yields with Sustainable Practices
At the break of dawn, farmer Mefa Kapokosa is already busy preparing breakfast for her family before heading to her maize field. Like many women in her community, farming is both her source of food and livelihood. Yet in recent years, unpredictable rains and prolonged dry spells have left her struggling to produce enough to feed her household.
Today, things are changing. Thanks to field demonstration plots established by agricultural extension officers, Mefa has adopted climate-smart and low-cost land and water management practices, including zero-tillage, mulching, and the use of organic manure.
“Learning through a demonstration plot is more interesting because I get to observe firsthand how crops are faring under various practices,” she explained. “Even though we did not get much rain this year, my maize crop was not water-stressed.”
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLM) project, is playing a key role in bridging the gap between agricultural research and smallholder farmers. Supported by funding from the Government of Flanders, the project is working with Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen extension services.
According to Harvey Nyirongo, Agriculture Extension Development Officer in Mzimba’s Chasato section, demonstration plots are proving invaluable. “Using demonstration plots as a learning tool helps farmers make informed decisions as they are able to observe and assess the effectiveness of various technologies on their own,” he said.
A six-acre maize demonstration plot in Chasato is showcasing innovations such as Mbeya fertiliser, pit planting, vetiver grass planting, swales, and other soil conservation techniques. Located along main paths, the plots draw the curiosity of passers-by, some of whom go on to replicate the practices in their own fields.
So far, 1,730 farmers – 1,124 of them women – have participated in learning sessions at the demonstration plot. Local officials report that adoption of sustainable practices has risen steadily, with farmers recording increased yields despite erratic weather conditions.
The initiative highlights how strengthening links between research, extension and community farmers can promote resilience, productivity and food security across Malawi.
