April - June 2014

The Magazine for National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi

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WINTER CROPPING AND CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

NTHAZI LA NASFAM

Kuba bupu wa balimi bachokobachoko lapachanya, lakulimbikiska chitukuko na bizinesi ya ulimi nakupereka phindu pa umoyo na chuma cha mamembala ghakhe, madera ghabo kweniso ku chalo chose.

CHAKULATA CHA BUPU WA NASFAM

Chakulata cha bupu wa NASFAM ni kulutiska panthazi umoyo wa balimi bachokobachoko. Pakugwira ntchito kujumphira mwakukorelanako kwa ma Asosiyeshoni, NASFAM ikulimbikiska ulimi nga ni bizinesi kuti chuma cha balimi chilutilile panthazi, kweniso ikugwira ntchito zakupambanapambana pakuvwira kulutiska panthazi ulimi.

MASOMPHENYA

NASFAM idzakhala bungwe la alimi ang’onoang’ono lapamwamba, lolimbikitsa chitukuko ndi bizinesi ya ulimi, ndikupereka phindu pa umoyo ndi chuma cha mamembala ake, madera awo komanso dziko lonse.

CHOLINGA

Cholinga cha NASFAM ndi kutukula miyoyo ya alimi ang’onoang’ono. Pogwira ntchito kudzera mukulumikizana kwa ma asosiyeshoni, NASFAM imalimbikitsa ulimi ngati bizinesi kuti chuma cha alimi chipite patsogolo, komanso imagwira ntchito zosiyanasiyana zothandiza kutukula ulimi.

VISION

To be the leading smallholder owned business and development organisation in Malawi, producing economic and social benefits for members, their communities and the country.

MISSION

NASFAM exists to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Through a sustainable network of smallholder-owned business organizations, NASFAM promotes farming as a business to develop the commercial capacity of its members and delivers programmes that enhance their productivity and innovation.

2 YOUNG FARMERS IN NAMWERA EMBARK ON A FUTURE OF FARMING

4 OF IRRIGATION AND WINTER CROPPING THIS SEASON

6 KELVIN SOARS HIGH DESPITE HIS DISABILITY

7 UNLOCKING THE KNOWLEDGE

IMPARTED THUS FAR: LESSONS ON IPC FROM NTCHEU

8 FAQ FROM MEMBERS

10 WINTER CROPPING AND CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

12 MANAGING DISASTERS WITH BANANA SUCKERS

14 US HANDS OVER OIL MACHINERY TO

MZIMBA UNION

16 NASFAM HOLDS SPECIAL ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEETINGS

18 MEET ANNIE NAILUWA, WOMAN IN THE LEAD

20 BAKING SOYA CAKES

CONTENTS

Overall EditingTamanda Chabvuta

Editing contributionsAlbert Shara

Design and layoutEmpire Kreatives

EDITORIAL TEAM

Call 0992957016 or email Tchabvuta@nasfam.org

to advertise in Titukulane

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

For any successful farmer, there is time to sit down and refl ect back on the performance during the previous growing season. This is the right time to do so and I am happy to join you this time around to sing together our success and think about the future.

Have you sold your produce collectivly this year? Did you sell to your Association or you were so impatient that you sold to vendors? And if so, did you sell all of the harvests such that you did not leave any for the home? If your answer to all these questions is yes, please ask yourself, “Where will I get food and how will my home remain food secure for the rest of the year?

The marketing season is so exciting that many of us become overwhelmed with the desire to earn a lot of money. Many farmers call it a time to please the mind (Nthawi yodzipepesa!) and so we sell too much or all we have to buy many things including those that may not be so important. This brings about the burden of having to source food later on in the year, especially during the dry season which falls between December and March.

Remember, it is important to keep enough food for the home before we sell our produce, just as it is also important to diversify our crops in order to gain maximum nutritious benefi ts. It is the age of crop diversifi cation isn’t it?

To those who have sold to vendors, always remember that the only people who benefi t most in agriculture are the people who buy your produce at farm level because they sell it at higher prices later on. You have very little benefi t and your association does not benefi t as it could have had you sold your produce to it.

Next season is around the corner and I am asking you to start you preparations now with Lead Farmers, AFOs and association managers so that you can harvest more and sell enough in a collective system so that you can register huge returns.

The cold season in Malawi which runs from May to July is not the time to rest. We can use our land and any water resource available to produce some food and cash crops. In this issue of Titukulane we share some insights on winter cropping. A fellow member from Mzimba also enlightens us all how he has made hunger a thing of the past in his household.

For those yet to fi nish their crop marketing schedules, I wish you all the best. Remember, there is always a bright future for the organised!

Dyborn ChibongaChief Executive Offi cer

1April - June 2014

NTHAZI LA NASFAM

Kuba bupu wa balimi bachokobachoko lapachanya, lakulimbikiska chitukuko na bizinesi ya ulimi nakupereka phindu pa umoyo na chuma cha mamembala ghakhe, madera ghabo kweniso ku chalo chose.

CHAKULATA CHA BUPU WA NASFAM

Chakulata cha bupu wa NASFAM ni kulutiska panthazi umoyo wa balimi bachokobachoko. Pakugwira ntchito kujumphira mwakukorelanako kwa ma Asosiyeshoni, NASFAM ikulimbikiska ulimi nga ni bizinesi kuti chuma cha balimi chilutilile panthazi, kweniso ikugwira ntchito zakupambanapambana pakuvwira kulutiska panthazi ulimi.

MASOMPHENYA

NASFAM idzakhala bungwe la alimi ang’onoang’ono lapamwamba, lolimbikitsa chitukuko ndi bizinesi ya ulimi, ndikupereka phindu pa umoyo ndi chuma cha mamembala ake, madera awo komanso dziko lonse.

CHOLINGA

Cholinga cha NASFAM ndi kutukula miyoyo ya alimi ang’onoang’ono. Pogwira ntchito kudzera mukulumikizana kwa ma asosiyeshoni, NASFAM imalimbikitsa ulimi ngati bizinesi kuti chuma cha alimi chipite patsogolo, komanso imagwira ntchito zosiyanasiyana zothandiza kutukula ulimi.

VISION

To be the leading smallholder owned business and development organisation in Malawi, producing economic and social benefits for members, their communities and the country.

MISSION

NASFAM exists to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Through a sustainable network of smallholder-owned business organizations, NASFAM promotes farming as a business to develop the commercial capacity of its members and delivers programmes that enhance their productivity and innovation.

The future looked bleak when he dropped out of school as it meant he could only be a beggar.

With no hope, he decided to leave the village and try out the city life, but it never worked for him. He returned home hopeless, but took a gamble that paid off.

Some stories should never be told or maybe, Aubrey Champion is a bad story teller, who is only capable of provoking tear glands with true life stories even if they yielded success at the end. We met him at his farm located in Chikweo Chapter on Namwera Asspciation and before he took us down the farm, he made sure he furnished us with the background of the idea.

“There is no success,” he began the story while driving us to a raised land so we could have a good view of the whole field from a distance, “that comes from no

effort and struggle,”

Aubrey Champion belongs to Nyengo Club of Namiyaja GAC. It took several years for him to start farming on his own.

He is intelligent and as he nar-rates his story with well articulat-ed details, you can hardly believe he dropped out of school while in standard eight. He says poverty drove him out of school. None-theless, staying at home did not improve anything as he needed to find a source of income for sur-vival.

This is when he moved to the city and secured a job as a domestic worker. He says it was a decision that was so hard for him. He had never provided house chores service to any family and taking the position of a houseboy in the city, was a challenge but he had no option.

“That was in 2011 and my du-ties included cleaning the home, cooking and going to the market. It was hard that I only stayed for two months. I wanted something that would make me a boss and keep my pockets fat,” says Cham-pion.

He got courage and left the city back to the village. Although he had left the village, he was the most trusted and oldest of his siblings. His parents also lacked someone to run things around the home. This is one of the reasons he says forced him to return home.

“We rely on farming but because we practised traditional farming, our harvests were not attractive,” he recalls.

Every problem has its end and for Champion, the new chapter be-gan after he heard about a farm-ers’ organization called NASFAM

YOUNG FARMERS IN NAMWERA EMBARK ON A FUTURE OF FARMING

2 April - June 2014

which is uplifting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across Malawi.

When the organisation field officer visited his village Champion was among the few individuals pres-ent. They were briefed and so was the beginning of their club, Nyengo Club. Through the club they access seed and grow crops, which they sell after harvest. He tells a different story today; his home is food secure and the proceeds raised for excess crops sold, has improved the welfare of the home.

“My advice to the youth lament-ing about job scarcity is that they do not have to rush into taking job opportunities they can not afford and going to cities is not a solu-tion. There are opportunities here in the village and farming is one of most viable,”

Today, Champion dreams about expanding his farm and growing more crops, have his own home and eventually get married.

“I wanted to go far with my edu-cation and be like other educated people in the world. But not all is lost, through farming I have found a way to fend for myself. I would have been poorer and contin-ued working as a slave had I not returned home to try farming,” he says.

Another farmer who has found gold in farming is Imran Chige-za. With the encouragement of a friend he also took a gamble that rewarded him later. His friends in Nselema community which is very close to Chikweo were already growing soya seed received from NASFAM.

Chigeza was swayed by the ben-efits his friends were making after selling their soya crop. However, he could do nothing as NASFAM had not expanded yet to his area. Coincidentally, that same year, 2013, NASFAM field officers visited his area through the local Agriculture Office and sensitised the people in the village on how

they could become NASFAM members.

It was the time Chigeza decided to reclaim the land his parents had given him sometime back but because of ignorance on the gold that rests in any soil, he ignored it.

It is a forgotten story now. The piece of land he got has changed his life. With the support from NASFAM, he grows soya seed on his land and in an interview he emphasised that he will never quit farming.

“I am no longer a beggar and thanks to NASFAM. I am earning a stable income through farming,” he now boasts.

He began by sowing 12 kilo-grammes of soya he acquired on loan and after paying back the loan which was 24 kilograms, he remained with about 150 kilograms. He now talks about harvesting almost a double the initial harvest.

“I grew up in a farming home but I have gained experience in growing soya this time around because of the NASFAM projects. I see a bright future and the knowl-edge we are gaining from NASFAM officials has com-pletely changed our farming sys-tems and I am opti-mistic for the better in the near future,” says Chigeza.

He advises youths rusting in the villages waiting to be em-ployed to try farming saying their is gold in agriculture.

Interestingly, NASFAM has not put boundaries on who should join their projects. Even students are members and one of them is Estele Stafano of Kang’ombe Club, Nyambi GAC. She is just 19 and lives with her mother and younger siblings. She is in Form One. She decided to become a

farmer to support her education. Her mother is unemployed and because of this she struggles to find school fees.

She joined the NASFAM project with the aim of growing some soya seed and sell the produce to raise enough school fees. To do achieve this, the teenager set her mind to grow enough seed that could give her in return two or more bags of soya weighing 50 kilograms each.

During the time of the interview, the girl had been out of school for almost a year. Her first harvest re-sponded well to her wishes. After paying back the seed loan, she remained with 75 kilogrammes which she sold and she says she will use the money for her school and the family.

She is lucky that she is comfort-able at the village. She knows she could be like other girls who opt to go to cities in search of jobs and end up into promiscuity for survival.

“I know this could have happened to my life and I thank NASFAM for

coming to

my rescue.

Many girls like me are falling into traps of unplanned pregnancies or sexual transmitted diseases because of poverty. My advice to other young girls is that they should think of stable solutions to some of the challenges they face in their daily life. If given the opportunity, they should try out farming and earn some money that will assist in getting a few of the things they lack.”

3April - June 2014

IntroductionFor many years, as farmers, we have grown dif-ferent crops during the rainy season which usually begins around November every year and ends in April the following year.

But many areas still face challenges in reaping the much expected benefi ts mainly because of inade-quate rainfall and dry spells. However, some of us have a chance to grow crops if we have farm land near a water source that we can use for irrigation.

Benefi ts of irrigationIrrigation helps farmers grow crops several times in a year. This is very different from relying on the rains because in such situations we only grow crops once a year. In addition to this, irrigation assists us and our households to be food secure at all times. When we grow crops in this way, we also maximise our fi nancial benefi ts after we sell the produce. Irrigation farming is one way that we can earn more income.

Crops that we may grow this winterIt is possible to plant and irrigate many crops that do well with the fer-tility of the soil in our areas. Some of these crops are maize, beans, vegetables, peas, eggplants, fruits and chillies. We can grow maize to maximise the stock in our house-hold, but we may also sell fresh corn and earn a lot of money.

Types of irrigation farmingThere are many types of irrigation. These are by use of a water can, creating drainages along a river, using a motorised pump and also using a drip or treadle pump.

Irrigating with watering cansWe may use a watering can when irrigating our crops. The good part of it is that a can does not require a lot of money to purchase. You may go to the local market where agricultural inputs are sold to buy your watering can today.

Creating water canalsSome of us have access to water bodies that would work to create canals along them for irrigation. This type of irrigation is very benefi cial because water moves along the steep land on its own and this is less of a labour constraint as one does not have to use much strength to carry water to the crops or use a machine to pump water.

OF IRRIGATION AND WINTER CROPPING THIS SEASON

4 April - June 2014

Using a motorised pumpWe may irrigate our crops by use of a tap that has a motorised pump. This mode of irrigation requires a lot of money to use in purchasing diesel, pipes and also maintaining the engine at times when it mal-functions. However, if compared to irrigation by use of a watering can, we may irrigate our crops easily if grown on a large piece of land and use the moto-rised pump for this.

Using a dripping tapIrrigation by use of a dripping tap is good in places where there is little water and also in very hot plac-es. Crops grow with moisture because water only drips very slowly. This type of irrigation requires careful precision and the water needs not to have any sand in it or other dirt as these may block the pipes. The water only drips where the crop is. This preserves water.

What to do during irrigation farm-ingThere are a few steps we need to follow when we are to venture into irrigation farming. We should make sure we have enough water and also that there is no risk of flooding. Other things we need to look into are the type of soil that we want to grow crops on, how steep the slope is, the seasons in our area, the seed we want to grow, the type of ex-tension we have and the benefit we are expecting.

THE SOIL TYPEThe type of soil we have will assist us decide on the right method of irrigation. Sandy soils easily erode, therefore, we should use a watering can or a drip. If we have clay soil, we should create water canals or

use a treadle pump or motorized pump. In addition, knowing the type of soil will help us grow the right crop that will benefit us.

The steepness of the slope If the farm land is on a steep slope, use a watering can or drip. This assists to avoid soil erosion. If our farm land is not too steep, we may create water canals or use a treadle pump or motorised pump so that water moves along the drains we have created.

The seasons in our areaThese days, seasons change very often such that in other areas, it does not rain normally and there is always high temperature. In other areas, it rains a lot and temperatures are usually low. In instances of very little rainfall, let us use a watering can or a drip. We may also plant our vegetable crops or cas-sava and earn maximum benefits even in instances of little rainfall.

If there has been very heavy rainfall, let us plant rice, sugar canes or bananas which require a lot of water. We can create water canals or use a treadle or motorised pump.

The availability of waterIf we have a lot of water near our farm land we may use a treadle or motorised pump. We may also create drains for water passage if possible. Where there is very little water, we may use a can or drip.

The type of cropThe type of crop we want to grow will determine the irrigation method we should choose. Crops that require a lot of water are crops such as rice, sug-arcanes and bananas. If we choose any of these crops, the right way to irrigate is by creating water canals. However, this will only be effective if our farm land is not steep or if it is clay soil.

Availability of extension service on irrigation farmingIrrigation by use of watering cans or use of a treadle pump does not require much expertise. But irri-gation by use of a drip, canals and also motorised pump requires a lot of expertise. If we use a water drip, we must make sure the water does not have any dirt or sand in it. If we are to create canals or use a motorised pump without any precision, the water may overflow and the soil may erode.

ConclusionLet us try irrigation farming to fight hunger in our households and also to earn more income. Let us ask the field officers in our areas to get advice on choosing the right method that will help us reach maximum benefits. Let us not forget that farming is business and the future belongs to the organised!

5April - June 2014

Kelvin Gondwe was born in 1956 in Karonga Chilumba, Traditional Authority (T/A)

Mwansambo. He is the third born in a family of four. At the age of 6, Kelvin was hit by polio that cost him his sight.

This robbed him the glory of child-hood fun and affected his chanc-es of pursuing education and consequently become one of the people in the collar jobs one day. However, his parents did the best they could to make him adjust to his condition, and by far they provided him with an attractive environment in the home to help him grow up a happy person.

At the age of 20, the social wel-fare scheme was implementing a project for the disabled youth nationwide and Karonga was among the beneficiaries. Kelvin’s family was approached to have him take part in the project but his mother was reluctant to let him go. After several approaches by the social workers and other local authorities, she eventually accepted and Kelvin was sent to Mulanje where he underwent

training in crop farming at the Mulanje Centre for the

Handicapped which is ran by the Malawi Council for the Handi-capped (MACOHA).

This was a one year training pro-gramme and by the end of it all, he attained a certificate in farm-ing. After this, it was a matter of making the next choice on what to do with his life. Some people tipped him to apply for a job at the MACOHA Tobacco Estates at Kasinje in Ntcheu.

He took the chance and worked there for a few years. One who finds a wife finds a better thing and Kelvin did not want this say-ing to go without giving him a real meaning. He eventually, started looking for a life partner.

One of his close friends recom-mended Maria Gondwe, who was one of the women who worked in the estate and she was perceived as a fitting choice for Kelvin to partner with. It was on 12th April, 1981 that the two got married.

Adjusting to partnering with a man who could not see was also a big transition for Maria and she had to undergo a training that helped her adjust and also under-stand the needs for Kelvin.

Today, Maria and Kelvin have three children. They own two acres of land in the Livilivi settle-ment of Balaka District. They use an acre of land for growing soya and maize while the other is for growing tobacco. At one point in time, the family had a heard of 12 cattle which they lost last year to drowning.

Despite having sight inability, Kelvin enjoys life like any other person.

“Being blind has never stopped me from working hard in my farm activities. I can even beat an average farmer without sight problems in digging farm land, weeding, planting and even harvesting,” said Kelvin while pointing at the 34 bags of Soya weighing 50kgs each packed in a room.

Kelvin’s story may not be like any other, but there is much that can be learnt from him. He has what many can term as a helpless situation. But with commitment, Kelvin has stood above that which would have constrained him and he has earned himself a stable home and can take care of his family.

KELVIN SOARS HIGH DESPITE HIS DISABILITY

6 April - June 2014

On June 3rd, we sat down with Ntcheu Joint Asso-ciation leaders to grab their perspectives on

their understanding of NASFAM’s current Strategic Development Programme 3 (SDP 3) where AMCs change to IPCs.

During this meeting we re-ceived contributory ideas from the chairperson of Ntcheu Joint Association Mr D. S. Chizumba, Che Marry Maliselo, a member, Verinas Kankhwani, Secretary for Nsipe Association, Sinaye Moffat, a member, Joel Lekera the Joint Association’s Treasurer, Melison Howard a member, James Cham-bakata a member and Martha Maliro who is the Chairperson for the Gender and HIV/AIDS Com-mittee. Here is an excerpt from the group discussion we had:

First and foremost, what is an IPC?

IPC stands for Innovative Pro-ductivity Centre. This means that as joint Associations, we are supposed to learn to be indepen-dent. The Chewa slang for it is “kutakataka” which means being a centre that fi nds means to gener-ate money in almost all situations. In being an Innovative Productiv-ity Centre, members should be productive and are supposed to

have a way in which they can add value and generate corporative in-come on their own from the crops they grow rather than depending on any funds from head offi ce or other donors.

When did you all get to know about IPC?

Through NASFAM’s Training Unit, we were trained on all angles to do with an IPC in the year 2011. We were told that NASFAM’s work is piloted by its Strategic Development Programme that has been running from the year 2011 to 2016. In this SDP 3, we are to see Association Manage-ment Centres transitioning to an IPC. This training was an eye opener as it made us aware of the current goals we are supposed to set for ourselves and our potential as a Joint Association into be-coming an innovative centre. We have three Associations in Ntcheu which are Nsipe, Kasinje and Kandeu. All three Associations have potential in bringing their ideas together to become an IPC.

What responsibility does a member have to help his/her Joint Association become an IPC?

Every member needs to be active in their clubs, their GACs as well

as their own Associations. Lead-ers need to make sure there is harmony in all spheres. Each member can contribute effective-ly their ideas and efforts on how their joint Association can become an IPC. These ideas should not be kept to oneself. They need to bring these forward and sell them to everyone.

So far, what steps have you taken to become an IPC?

We have a vision that we share. We have worked on diversifying our crops and now most mem-bers grow soya and groundnuts in Ntcheu which was not the case in the past. Currently, we wish to re-open our grocery which got robbed of all proceeds in 2012. At that point, there were not many funds left to keep this shop go-ing but now we are decided on re-opening it this year. We are yet to harmonise our ideas in val-ue addition to the crops we now grow and hopefully in the next two years to come, we will pass through our idea and get con-structive and visible progress.

To learn more about IPCs, talk to your fi eld offi cer or visit the near-est NASFAM Association Offi ce in your area.

Unlocking the knowledge imparted thus far: LESSONS ON IPC FROM NTCHEU

7April - June 2014

Q1. Once we sell our soya pro-duce, should we keep some or fi nish all that we have set aside for consumption in the home with hope that we will get more seed on loan during the next growing season?

Ideally, we encourage farmers to keep some for their own produc-tion. Therefore, a farmer receiv-ing 12kg of soya has to repay 24kg. It is strongly recommended that they keep at least 12kg for themselves meaning that if they happen to get 12kg or more for the next season, it will therefore be 24kg of seed in total. This will ensure that they grow more seed and maximise their crop produce. However, the sustainable goal is for members to graduate from seed loan and NASFAM strongly encourages farmers not to rely on

seed acquired by loan forever.

It is also very important for farm-ers to keep some of the produce for home consumption. In fact, ideal scenario is that farmers get 12kg of seed and they harvest a minimum of 300kgs (around 6bags of 50kg each). Not taking into account dry spells and other unforeseeable circumstances. In this regard, farmers are en-couraged to keep a bag for seed repayment and production for the following season. A farmer can further keep 2 bags for home consumption and the remaining 3 bags for crop marketing to get some household income. In the long run, they will be increasing their share of bags for crop mar-keting while maintaining the home consumption share in so doing

getting more household income.

Q2. Other members in Machin-ga and Namwera also grow rice. Why is NASFAM not pro-viding a market for rice in this area?

Initially, NASFAM wished to enlarge the market for kilombero rice. Now that this product has settled on the market, the organ-isation is working on developing the other rice varieties grown all over the country. The slow progress in developing the other varieties was to avoid mixing with the existent variety. However, the new varieties will also have their own packaging.

Q3. What is the recommend-ed land size for the soya loan seed of 12 kgs that is provided through the INVC programme?

FAQ FROM MEMBERS

The communications team was able to visit some of our members in Senior Group Village Ngunga, T/A Chiuja of Machinga District and also members in Chikweo Chapter of Namwera Association in Man-gochi District. Members met during the two visits had several questions to ask regarding their organi-sation’s goals and procedures. In keeping light of the responses, we promised to compile all questions

together and provide responses in print while having other members across the country grab one or two insight-ful information. Here are some of the questions asked and the responses to each:

8 April - June 2014

The recommended land size is about 0.2acres. If planted in single row spacing, the land size should be 1.5 hectares but if planted through double row spac-ing, the land size used should be half of this.

Q4. Due to climate and weath-er challenges, other members were not able to harvest much from what they planted last year. In most cases, these are members that acquired the seed on loan from NASFAM to be paid back in double. What should a member in such a situation do when they wish to repay their seed loan?

NASFAM targets farmers in clubs. Such clubs are made of about 10members. A number of clubs working together form a GAC or MAC then Association and perhaps at apex level we have the Association Management Centre (AMC) or Innovative Productivity Centre (IPC).

Indeed some clubs had poor crop performance attributed to several factors some of which given above. However, the loan repayment is per club and not an individual. Therefore, when a member or more have failed to repay,

it is the responsibility of the club to ensure that their membership is maintained. In such cases, farmers can borrow from within the clubs and repay next season. That is the benefi t of being in a club. If the whole club is affected, MAC or GAC leadership should help such clubs repay the loan after drafting an extended and third party agreement with the clubs. This is to make sure that the whole MAC has enough seed just before the growing season. Experience has shown that when each member indicates he/she did not yield anything, the rest follow suit and recovery becomes problematic. Eventually, the whole MAC or GAC lacks seed for distribution in the next season and there is no way the seed pro-gramme can be procuring new

seed every year.

Q5. Why do we have to pay back double the seed we ac-quired on loan?

The seed is paid back on a 1:2 repayment ratio just to make sure that the seed revolving is enhanced. This is in line with NASFAM membership expansion for particular areas. Similarly, all we want is increased legume productivity that will lead to more improved seed and more smallholder farmers. Otherwise, there are more costs like trans-portation, extension work, pro-gramme administration that are not covered in the seed revolving projects like INVC. Therefore the seed programmes at time oper-ate at a loss and there is need to ensure there is sustainability of the programmes.

Q6. Does NASFAM provide monetary loan for members to purchase other inputs?

NASFAM is not able to offer monetary loan to its members. However, the organisation is able to link farmers to fi nancial institu-tions. IPCs/AMCs or Associations can enter into third party agree-ments with fi nancial institutions on fi nancial loans. But keep in mind that fi nancial loans cannot be viable in places where seed loan is failing.

9April - June 2014

Farming is a cycle. After harvesting, the land be-comes bare waiting for the next cultivation in line with

the subsequent rainy season. For those who have farming land near a water point, probably the idea of growing vegetables is the only thought that comes to mind. But one farmer in Mzimba, Payikani Chipeta thinks otherwise. He be-lieves one can definitely still grow several crops on the same land and have plenty of food all year round. He is usually caught say-ing, “starvation to me is a thing of the past and I only hear about it. I now know the best way to make use of my land all the time!” We talked to him to know his story.

Briefly describe yourself.

I am Payikani Chipeta, aged 45 and a father of 7. I have been a farmer for the past 7 years and

I joined NASFAM in 2007. I am a member of Chibanya Club, Champhoyo GAC in Joka Associ-ation from Mzimba in which I am the chairperson.

What type of farming are you involved in?

I am involved in financial and subsistence farming.

Please explain what you grow and how many years you have grown this crop.

I grow maize, tobacco, beans,

cassava, sugarcane and sweet potatoes including some vege-tables such as mpiru and rape. I have grown these crops through-out the 7 years I have been a farmer.

What happened for you to join farming as a career?

I decided to start farming after I had received advice from NAS-FAM on how one can make farm-ing a business. This happened at the time when I was finding it difficult to provide efficiently for my family. Every year, I see that I

Payikani Chipeta

WINTER CROPPING AND CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

“I will get a lot of food crops for my household. Even finances are available because we can sell anytime”

10 April - June 2014

am doing something appropriate and I have prospered enough. I have also been able to buy live-stock after the sales made from the harvested crops.

Explain to us, what is climate change?

This is the change in the patterns of rainfall and the change in sea-sons.

How or where did you learn about climate change?

I learnt all this at workshops that were conducted by our NASFAM Association Field Officer. During these trainings we were told that such change occurs in several ways. It could be in the rising con-ditions of temperatures and also the timing of the seasons that do not go inline with patterns of the past.

You are involved in winter crop-ping and conservation agricul-ture. What is it all about?

Conservation agriculture is the type of farming that is conducted in resilience to climate change. In my farm, I practice the mode of mulching using old maize husks. This ensures that the ground is moist and even in the midst of mild rainfall, the crops will not wilt easily.

Winter cropping is what I have in-corporated in my conservation ag-riculture practice. I have 1 acre of land that is situated along a water point. In this field, I can grow crops throughout the year even when it is not the rainy season. In this month of June, now that it is cold and there is no rainfall, I am involved in winter cropping.

What is winter cropping?

This is the growing of crops even when there is no rainfall. Instead, I do irrigation on my land. I mulch my crops with old maize husks and also irrigate them using the water sources within the field.

What type of crops are you growing in your field?

I have grown maize, beans, veg-etables, Irish potatoes and sug-arcanes. I sell some of these and keep some for my household. I do not have time to rest. I grow crops throughout the calendar.

What drove you into this?

In 2012, I harvested 18 bales of tobacco that did not sell very well at the auction floors. I knew I was in trouble. Our Association Field Officer always encourages us to avoid growing only one crop and what happened that year was a lesson to me. Knowing that I

have this field which was acquired through inheritance, I made up my mind to ensure I utilise it properly.

How do you expect to benefit from growing these crops at this time of the year?

I will get a lot of food crops for my household. Even finances are available because we can sell anytime.

Are any other farmers able to grasp a lesson from this?

As a matter of fact, yes! At pres-ent, we have 15 other farmers involved in this winter cropping in my community. As a farmer to farmer trainer I teach others on how this farming works.

Why do you think most farm-ers are not involved in winter cropping?

Some farmers are lazy and others simply think it is useless whereas some do not have the privilege of getting the necessary training on it. It is time that we all move from the old tradition thinking of always waiting for the rainfall to fall. We can grow crops any time of the year, only by following the proper and critical advice.

Payikani Chipeta watering his maize crop.

11April - June 2014

Iponga River along the border parts of Karonga District goes into Songwe River. And so does Kyungu River. The two

rivers overfl ow almost every year during the rainy season, forcing most households to become des-olate as they lose their farm crops to the angry fl oods.

It is for this reason that the Na-tional Smallholder Farmers’ As-sociation of Malawi (NASFAM), in line with its strategies in disaster risk reduction and management, distributed 110 banana suckers, locally known as ngaya or chi-yinga to some households that reside in the areas surrounding these river points.

Ebron Ndinasho Mwang’onda lives in Mwakaoko Village, Tradi-tional Authority (T/A) Mwakaoko in the district. Sometime in May this year, 110 suckers were kept outside his home as they waited to be distributed to the rest of the

households.

Mwang’onda feared that the suckers would rot, therefore, he decided to plant them directly out-side his home for other members of the community to access the suckers in due course.

MANAGING DISASTERS WITH BANANA SUCKERSKaswel Minga shows one of the banana suckers planted.

“The beauty with bananas is that they can multiply on their own. I believe this will help me and other farmers in the area to reduce the effects of fl ooding and also improve soil fertility.”

12 April - June 2014

But today, his little nursery also serves as a demonstration site for those that received the suckers as well as other farmers in the area.

Kiswel Minga is a member of Mbembati Club of Timoti MAC and he is one of the recipients of the banana suckers distributed

early this year. On his five acres of land he grows rice, pigeon peas and sweet potatoes. He also rears five cattle around his home.

Together with other members of Minga’s club, they were trained on production, nature and benefits of banana suckers.

“This is the sec-ond time for the farmers in the area to receive such banana suckers. At first we received them through the government’s Chitukuko Scheme and we planted them along the

river. However, most of them eventually began to rot.,” explains Kiswel when he shows the new spot where he planted his suckers this year.

He says they received two suck-ers each and they asked for

direction on the right way to plant them from government agriculture extension staff who advised them to plant the suckers on farm land which is prone to flooding.

“I once grew the local variety outside my home and these matured and multiplied massively, but the variety we received this year is one that produces banana plantains which can be taken for staple food,” says Minga.

According to Minga, the other ad-vantage of the new variety is that when leaves fall off the plant, they decompose, hence adding humus to the soil.

“The beauty with bananas is that they can multiply on their own. I believe this will help me and other farmers in the area to reduce the effects of flooding and also improve soil fertility. Locally, bananas are a source of food and income,” he says.

Like any other crop, bananas require a weed-free field. Cow dung and chicken manure can be applied to supplement nutrients to the crop thereby increasing vege-tative growth and also increasing production of fruits.

13April - June 2014

Here you go, Gonzales (right) seems to be saying to H. Kalomba (left).

US HANDS OVER OIL MACHINERY TO MZIMBA UNION

Malawi’s growth and development strategy emphasises on the importance of value

addition. It is for this reason that Mzimba farmers have for over a year now, been processing their own sunfl ower cooking oil.

In view of this, it is pleasing that on 25 April this year the US Embassy’s Self Help Small Grant programme handed over full own-ership of two new oil extractors to the S.Mzimba Associations’ Union.

Present during the handover

ceremony was US Embassy Deputy Ambassador Michael Gonzales, Traditional Authority (T/A) for Mzimba Jenda area Levi Jere, Jenda Trading Centre Chairperson Vili Munthazi as well as Henry Kalomba and Andrew Mahiyu from NASFAM Head Offi ce together with S. Mzimba Union Board Members lead by their Chairperson Aluf Moyo.

In his speech, Gonzales stressed that the US government is work-ing hard towards making Malawi-ans start addressing challenges they face in different sectors on

their own.

“The Umozi Union has proved that it can do this and we thank the members for their hard work,” he said.

“The two oil extractor machines are set to double the factory’s production. The lesson other communities can learn from this development is by looking at their raw materials and what they can do to add value to them,” said Gonzales.

Since October 2012, the factory has been able to process thou-

14 April - June 2014

sands of litres of cooking oil from sunfl ower harvests supplied by the Association’s members.

The factory building was con-

structed in 2009 as a pilot project in the district. Close to the end of 2012, the Flemish Government through Flanders International Cooperation Agency (FICA) pro-

vided oil producing machines. In continuing with this support, FICA has worked in providing more seed and technical support to the farmer trainers.

Offi cials present on the day took some time to take a tour of the oil processing factory.

15April - June 2014

The National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM) held nationwide special Asso-

ciation General Meetings (AGMs) from 21st to 27th June this year.

The meetings were held in almost all of NASFAM’s Associations from the northern to the south-ern region to sensitise members on the importance of collective

marketing and the importance of seed repayment both at club and individual level.

Speaking at a meeting held in Mzimba, Wotchiwe Shaba who is from Kamimba GAC and is secretary for Khosolo Association expressed gratitude, saying the meeting brought more enlighten-ment on roles GACs and mem-bers can play at the onset of each

marketing season.

“For a long time, we have de-pended on vendors to buy our produce even though we were very aware that they use tricky procedures when purchasing our produce. But just as we have discussed during the meeting, whenever we have our produce ready at GAC level we should contact our Association Office and

NASFAM HOLDS SPECIAL ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEETINGS

Henry Jere, NASFAM National Board member was there to lead progression of the Special AGMs in Karonga at Kaporo Central Mpata Association.

16 April - June 2014

ask that they come and purchase our produce using the certified scales that NASFAM has,” said Shaba.

She also said it is up to each and every member to monitor and speak out whenever they have any miscalculations or technical errors with scales at GAC level so that there should be fairness when conducting marketing.

Fanny Mhango from North Viphya Association who lives in Nkunika Village in Rumphi concurred with Shaba, noting that the meeting had empowered her on the impor-tance of collective marketing.

“I have been equipped with knowledge on details about markets for the crops I grow. I have also been sensitised on the critical role I can play to make sure our seed bank continues to

exist for the agricultural seasons to come,” said Mhango.

She said she will try to become independent and not rely on re-ceiving seed on loan every year.

NASFAM executives who were present at all the meetings took note of all concerns members raised and promised to exert ef-forts into addressing all issues.

Fannie Mhango from North Viphya.

Nkhamanga board members during the Nkhaman-ga Special AGM held at Bolero Community Hall.

17April - June 2014

Call her a woman in her own world and you won’t be wrong as this is what her success story in

farming represents. Her name is Annie Nailuwa. She is the chair-person for Ankaziwandani Club, Ulumba GAC and also serves as treasurer for Thondwe Associa-tion. These leadership roles are just part of who Annie Nailuwa of Mapota Village, T/A Chikowi in Zomba District is. The outlook of her household exudes the inde-pendence of a strong and suc-cessful farmer. There is no pride in her and so lives a story that has changed many.

Nailuwa became a NASFAM member in 2006 and existed as any other committed member. Raised in a community where leadership roles are usually left for the men, Nailuwa succumbed to the mentality of ‘a shy reserved woman’ and not even once did she ever attempt to contest for any leadership role in her club.

“Most women are discouraged by their husbands or other men in the society who tell them that there is no way they should pur-sue leadership roles. Some use wrong references to substantiate their point. They believe that the role of a woman is to take care of the home and nothing more. This is why most women do not con-test for leadership positions,” said Nailuwa, in an interview, when responding to why she continued not to show interest to compete for leadership positions in her club.

Every story has got an end and for Nailuwa, radio programmes helped to change her perception on leadership and feminism. She says this began after listening to several motivating stories about women on radios and she started

to believe she can become a leader. In 2010 she tried her chance by contest-ing for the post of chairperson for her club and unexpect-edly, she won with comfortable votes.

It was expected that she would face resistance especially from men in the club and com-mu-nity at large but she never looked back. She says with the encourage-ment from her husband, she kept her faith and optimism that she can deliver the best leadership ever. Unfortunately, her husband passed away in 2012. It was a big blow to her, her pillar had gone.

On 19th February, 2013, Nailuwa was lucky that she was among the trainees who participated in the leadership training organ-ised by NASFAM’s Community Development Unit within the district. This is the training that equipped her with the most im-portant knowledge in leadership that changed her life forever. The same year, she became the leader for her GAC (Group Action Committee) and also became treasurer for the Association Board.

“I was invited to attend the Asso-ciation’s Annual General Meeting and I contested for the post of

treasurer. To be sincere, I was not confi dent and was also nervous because I was the only female out of the

three contestants. I did not believe the results, I was voted

for with majority votes to become the treasurer of the Association. I believe there is a big change in my community regarding percep-tion on women and leadership but there is still much to be done,” she says.

When asked about her future, Nailuwa says she sees a bright future and she will continue to serve while portraying a good example to fellow women who have been members for long, but always shun away from becoming leaders in their zones.

“I will continue to serve the posi-tions that I hold. I will also con-tinue to be a great mother to my children and will keep on rearing chicken, pigeons and guinea fouls, goats, pigs and rabbits. I will also keep on growing tobac-co, soya and maize. My desire is to remain the best farmer and leader in my zone,” explained Nailuwa while spreading her eyes around her home as if she is doing stock taking to give the next dream.

MEET ANNIE NAILUWA, WOMAN IN THE LEAD

18 April - June 2014

19April - June 2014

“After I joined NASFAM in 2008, I served as Secre-tary for my club and then I became the club’s chairper-son in 2012. In 2013, I was elected to be a member of the NASFAM National Board. Being a woman should not stop one from delivering to the best of their lead-ership abilities. I am happy and glad for the support I receive from my husband and also my community.”

ELLA KAMBEWA, KACHERE CLUB, CHAMAMA ASSOCIATION, KASUNGU.

NASFAM NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER; 2013-PRESENT.

BAKING SOYA CAKEWHAT YOU WILL NEED• 1 cup of soya flour

• ½ cup of baking flour

• 3 or 2 eggs

• Milk or grated lemon zest

• 1 ½ spoon of baking powder

WHAT TO DO• Beat the eggs until it becomes

spongy

• Mix sugar with margarine until they become white

• Take soya flour and mix with baking flour and lemon zest

• Mix this with margarine and sugar

• You may use hands to mix all this

• Add milk and white egg and mix

• Mix these for a while

• Then pour into a baking tray or baking pot that has been smeared with enough cooking oil on the inside and place in oven or on stove for 10 to 15 minutes

• Allow the cake to cool off a bit before serving

With Chrissy Mololo, Lusekelo Club; Chilulu GAC; Henga Valley Association

20 April - June 2014

Mr Thomas Kasache

Recently resigned NASFAM Board Chairperson