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Transforming agriculture in Malawi with USAID

Transforming agriculture in Malawi with USAID

“The smart application of drip irrigation will allow farmers to grow a much wider variety of crops throughout the year. This allows farmers to break free from being totally dependent on a single harvest for their yearly income and food.”

Carl Larkins, Chief of Party of the USAID Feed the Future Malawi Agriculture Diversification Agriculture Program

Our mission

Provide training and support for irrigation, supply the drip irrigation systems and kits, as well as know-how, technical and agronomic support, to reduce food insecurity while introducing a new irrigation technique in Malawi

Transforming agriculture in Malawi with USAID

Country: Malawi

Crop: Paprika, groundnut, sweet potato, maize, beans, vegetables

Type: Open field / Community irrigtion

Size: 3-ha estate + 25 ha of kits (50 smallholder kits of 5000 sqm)

 

Project summary

The Feed the Future Malawi Agriculture Diversification Activity (AgDiv) was successful in securing USAID funding to advance efforts to transform agriculture in Malawi. Supported by USAID, Feed the Future Malawi accelerates crop diversification and improves agricultural outputs for the benefit of the local economy and community AgDiv engaged with commercial farms that can act as training hubs, where AgDiv partners implement, train and support farm staff and share best practices using demonstration plots. One of the participating farms is Horizon Farming Limited, a commercial farm that works with a network of more than 2,000 farming households in 17 local communities, as well as 3,000 groundnut and paprika growers in 50 villages that farm roughly 1,000 or more hectares.

In the initial phase, Netafim deployed drip irrigation on a 3-hectare pilot plot for training and demonstration in the anchor farm.

In phase two, 50 DRIPK kits of 5000 sqm were provided to surrounding farmers on credit for drip irrigation production on their own land. Produce from the kits were sold to Horizon Farms and the local market.

Results achieved

  • Increase in yield from 1.5 tons to 5 tons/ha for paprika
  • Paprika and sweet potato cultivation during the dry season for the first time
  • Drip irrigation water efficiency of 95% (versus 40% previously)
  • Drip irrigation technology directly on small farmer land

“The smart application of drip irrigation will allow farmers to grow a much wider variety of crops throughout the year. This allows farmers to break free from being totally dependent on a single harvest for their yearly income and food.”

Carl Larkins, Chief of Party of the USAID Feed the Future Malawi Agriculture Diversification Agriculture Program

SEE HOW NETAFIM PROJECTS CAN HELP YOU

SEE HOW NETAFIM PROJECTS CAN HELP YOU

Learn how Netafim Projects can help design and deliver your next agricultural masterpiece.

Services

  • Provision of drip irrigation equipment on credit to smallholder farmers
  • Market linkage between farmers and markets
  • Irrigation system design
  • Installation supervision
  • Capacity building  (training seminars for the farmers on drip systems, agronomy and irrigation)
  • Agronomical planning and support
  • Aftersales technical support

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